AFP. 8 October 2001. S. African govt makes no comment but others condemn US strikes.
JOHANNESBURG -- The South African government withheld comment on Monday on the US and British strikes against Afghanistan but the trade union movement, the communist party and a Muslim organisation all condemned the attacks. "The government remains in touch with the US government and all other role players... The government will continue to monitor closely these developments before making a comprehensive statement," Pretoria said in a statement. The government earlier urged Washington to exercise restraint in responding to the September 11 kamikaze attacks on the United States. "It's important that their focus is not lost and that we are not looking at war against countries," Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said of the US' declared aim of rooting out terrorism worldwide. The 1.7-million-strong Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) -- partners in government with Mbeki's African National Congress -- both condemned the strikes. "There is no justification for launching a war against Afghanistan or any other country. Two wrongs do not make a right," the SACP said. "It is worrying that the US has hastened to attack Afghanistan without convincing the world beyond doubt about the culpability of Osama bin Laden and his crew," said COSATU. South Africa's National Muslim Coalition said: "We do not accept that the evidence against Bin Laden was sufficiently convincing to warrant this attack ... as cowardly as the one on New York." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews with continuing coverage of WWIII _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
