clarinews@clarinet.com (hewitt/standard broadcast news ottawa) (02/03/90)
(Updating Canbriefs-6) (OTTAWA) Very pleased. That's Ottawa's initial reaction to the developments in South Africa. A spokesman for External Affairs says this is ``very, very good news''. Mark Entwistle adds that Ottawa agrees with Archbishop Desmond Tutu's comment that this is ``an historic step in the right direction''. South African President F.W. de Klerk has announced black activist Nelson Mandela will be released soon. And de Klerk has lifted all restrictions on political organizations. But de Klerk has not lifted the state of emergency regulations. Entwistle says Ottawa believes these developments are proof that the Canadian government's fight against apartheid, including imposing sanctions, has paid off. External Affairs Minister Joe Clark is in Calgary today and may comment from there after reading the speech. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is in Montreal where he can be expected to react.