South Africa: First, Stop The Killing

Nelson Mandela's African National Congress says it won't even start negotiating on a new, nonracial constitution until the government acts to stop the black factional battles that have taken more than 6,000 lives in the past five years. The A.N.C. accuses the government and security forces of supporting Inkatha, its rival in black vs. black carnage.

Last week the three main antagonists agreed on a tentative peace plan that would establish a code of conduct for political parties and the government's security forces. The plan would also create a permanent peace council of church, business, political and civic leaders to monitor grass-roots politics. The 80-page proposal is being circulated to organizations around the country, and invitations have gone out for a formal signing ceremony in Johannesburg in mid-September.