World Notes

Armed with spears, knives, axes and the occasional AK-47, rival supporters of the African National Congress and the Zulu-led Inkatha Freedom Party fought one another day and night in the townships of Johannesburg last week. At least 100 were killed, including two nephews of Nelson Mandela. The struggle between the two groups has escalated this year, and President F.W. de Klerk warned last week that if the violence is not stopped, the country faces civil war.

De Klerk called on the groups' leaders to join him at a "summit on violence" in late May, but the A.N.C. has declared it will boycott the meeting. The A.N.C. alleges that security forces side with the Zulus in the fighting, often leaving A.N.C. members to be slaughtered by Inkatha supporters, and has set a May 9 deadline for the government to dismiss the two Cabinet ministers responsible for security matters and to stop the bloodshed. The A.N.C. says it will withdraw from all talks on the country's future if this deadline is not met, but De Klerk maintained last week that he would not allow the process of reform to be sabotaged by such threats.