clarinews@clarinet.com (Kelly/Standard Broadcast News, Ottawa) (02/03/90)
(OTTAWA) Nelson Mandela could be released from prison in a matter of days. That's the prediction of of South Africa's Ambassador to Canada in an exclusive interview with Standard Broadcast News. Ambassador Hennie de Klerk says Mandela will be released from prison in two weeks at the most. He says Mandela is being held in prison, for now, for his own safety. The South African government fears a possible backlash to the latest reforms to apartheid. De Klerk is playing down speculation that the black activist is refusing to leave because a state of emergency still exists in that country. He says one of the African National Congress leaders states that Mandela is prepared to leave his prison home tomorrow and says conditions haven't been imposed as far as he knows. In an address to Parliament today, South Africa's President announced Mandela's future release, but didn't lift the state of emergency.