England Foreign Relations South Africa

South African Ambassador to Britain Denis Worrall resigned Friday, saying he wants to return to his country and "re-enter national public life." Although Worrall did not specify his plans, informed speculation here said he intends to leave South Africa's ruling National Party and run as an independent candidate for Parliament in the whites-only election scheduled for May 6.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who Wednesday came close to apologizing for British concentration camps during the Boer War, used the occasion to stress her nation's strong links with South Africa. "No one who reads of the distressing conditions in the detention camps which held both white and black detainees could fail to be moved even today, 100 years later," she told a banquet at the end of the first day of her second state visit.

Robert Baden-Powell, the British war hero who founded the Scouting movement, coined the popular motto "Be Prepared." But even the world's No. 1 Scout could not have anticipated the multimillion-dollar dispute now tainting his legacy in the country where he made his claim to fame. Traditional leaders in Mafikeng, a dusty provincial capital about 175 miles west of here, have filed a $5.9-million petition with the British government.

Robert Baden-Powell, the British war hero who founded the Scouting movement, coined the popular motto "Be Prepared." But even the world's No. 1 Scout could not have anticipated the multimillion-dollar dispute now tainting his legacy in the country where he made his claim to fame. Traditional leaders in Mafikeng, a dusty provincial capital about 175 miles west of here, have filed a $5.9-million petition with the British government.

British Prime Minister John Major has called for the lifting of sports sanctions against South Africa in response to South African President Frederik de Klerk's program to abolish apartheid.

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was met on arrival in Nigeria by demonstrators protesting her opposition to economic sanctions against South Africa. Several hundred people at the Lagos airport waved banners saying "Thatcher Go Home" and tore up British flags. Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida also referred to the issue in welcoming remarks. Thatcher responded that she and her critics disagree on means, not ends.

Britain bluntly told South African black leader Nelson Mandela that it will not talk with Irish Republican Army guerrillas. Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd said that he and Mandela discussed Mandela's remarks Monday in Dublin that appeared to suggest that Britain should open negotiations with the IRA. Hurd said he expressed the "strong feelings of everyone here that the IRA are rejects of the political system." Mandela has said that his Dublin remarks were misinterpreted.

Queen Elizabeth II returns to South Africa on Sunday for a six-day tour, her first visit to the onetime British colony since 1947. Relations between the historically linked nations deteriorated after the whites-only National Party government instituted apartheid in 1948. South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961. It rejoined last year, after the elections in which the African National Congress took power.

British Prime Minister John Major arrives today in South Africa, a former British colony, for talks on reviving a broad range of cultural, political and economic ties that became dormant during the dark years of apartheid. The highlight of the three-day visit will be Major's address to the newly elected all-race Parliament. He is the first British premier to visit the country since 1960, when Harold Macmillan formally rebuked the white supremacist government for its racist policies.

British Prime Minister John Major has called for the lifting of sports sanctions against South Africa in response to South African President Frederik de Klerk's program to abolish apartheid.

African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela ended his historic monthlong tour of the United States and Europe on Wednesday night, declaring that his mission to persuade the West to maintain economic sanctions against the South African government has "succeeded beyond our wildest dreams."

Britain bluntly told South African black leader Nelson Mandela that it will not talk with Irish Republican Army guerrillas. Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd said that he and Mandela discussed Mandela's remarks Monday in Dublin that appeared to suggest that Britain should open negotiations with the IRA. Hurd said he expressed the "strong feelings of everyone here that the IRA are rejects of the political system." Mandela has said that his Dublin remarks were misinterpreted.

African National Congress leader Nelson R. Mandela on Monday declared to a potential worldwide television audience of 1 billion that apartheid in South Africa will be ended only by "struggle," including international sanctions. Speaking from the stage of a sellout concert before 72,000 people at London's Wembley Stadium to celebrate his freedom, he told television viewers in 60 countries: "Reject any suggestion that the campaign to isolate the apartheid system should be wound down."

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who Wednesday came close to apologizing for British concentration camps during the Boer War, used the occasion to stress her nation's strong links with South Africa. "No one who reads of the distressing conditions in the detention camps which held both white and black detainees could fail to be moved even today, 100 years later," she told a banquet at the end of the first day of her second state visit.

The United States and Britain joined Friday in vetoing a Security Council proposal that would have imposed sweeping U.N. economic sanctions against South Africa. West Germany cast the only other negative vote as the 15-nation council ended two days of debate on a draft resolution submitted by five nonaligned nations. France and Japan abstained, and the 10 other members voted in favor. U.S. Ambassador Herbert S. Okun announced the U.S.

South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson R. Mandela arrived Sunday in Britain for his first visit in 28 years, planning to attend a benefit rock concert today in his honor but shunning Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's invitation to meet. The African National Congress deputy president said he is pleased to be back in the country and thanked British supporters at a news conference with his wife, Winnie, shortly after their arrival at Heathrow Airport.

World leaders welcomed South Africa's announcement Saturday of Nelson R. Mandela's impending release from prison, and international rejoicing began to build for an event so long awaited by so many. Britain said it is time to resume contacts with internationally isolated South Africa, but anti-apartheid campaigners warned against any reduction of pressure on the white-led government. President Bush praised South African President Frederik W.