Nathan Sharansky

Natan Sharansky, a symbol of human rights and political dissidence in the Soviet Union before emigrating to Israel, is a leading candidate to be Israel's next ambassador to the United Nations, government officials said Tuesday. But, with perhaps some irony, the main holdup in naming him is fear that the move would offend the Soviet Union, with which Israel is trying to improve relations, according to sources in the office of Prime Minister Yizhak Shamir.

Natan Sharansky, a symbol of human rights and political dissidence in the Soviet Union before emigrating to Israel, is a leading candidate to be Israel's next ambassador to the United Nations, government officials said Tuesday. But, with perhaps some irony, the main holdup in naming him is fear that the move would offend the Soviet Union, with which Israel is trying to improve relations, according to sources in the office of Prime Minister Yizhak Shamir.

Nelson Mandela, weary from a 3 1/2-week international tour, was cheered by thousands in downtown Los Angeles on Friday as he came to California to press for continued economic sanctions to end white minority rule in South Africa. Mandela and his wife, Winnie, stood in bright sunlight on the steps of City Hall as a crowd estimated between 5,000 and 15,000 chanted "Mandela" and local officials and movie stars hailed him.