TRC might summon De Klerk

Johannesburg - The former South African president, Mr F. W

Johannesburg - The former South African president, Mr F. W. de Klerk, might be summoned to appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission - or its amnesty committee - to help resolve contradictions between the testimony of former law and order minister Mr Adriaan Vlok and former police commissioner Gen Johan van der Merwe and his own declarations to the commission, writes Patrick Laurence.

In their evidence to the amnesty committee Mr Vlok and Gen Van der Merwe averred that Mr De Klerk was aware of the former government's covert - and unlawful - actions against the people and institutions deemed to "enemies of the state". Reuters adds: President Nelson Mandela was yesterday given notice that he also may have to respond to allegations that he withheld information on apartheid-era police bombings.