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Mandela Apologizes For Support Of U.S.-Led War On Terror
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 2 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) -
Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, has repudiated his controversial statement that Osama bin Laden should be held responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Mandela is to inform U.S. President, George W. Bush, that he has modified his "unreserved support" for the so-called “war against terrorism”, his office said Wednesday.
"We are writing to President Bush to appropriately qualify the view we previously expressed to him," the statement added.
Mandela, 83, expressed support for U.S.-led military operations against Bin Laden and the war in Afghanistan during a visit to the United States in November.
"We expressed the opinion that, tragic as the war may be, it was justified in this case as it proved the only method available for flushing out the terrorists whom the Taliban government in Afghanistan refused to hand over to the United States," the statement said, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
In a statement released by his office, he said subsequent discussions with family, friends and advisors had convinced him that his view may be "one-sided and over-stated", reported South African daily newspaper, Business, Wednesday.
"Subsequent discussions with our family, friends and advisors have convinced us that our view may be one-sided and overstated."
Friends and advisors have voiced concern that Mandela's initial support for the war "gives the impression that we are insensitive to and uncaring about the suffering inflicted upon the Afghan people".
"We (...) regret if the manner in which we stated our position gave any offence to Muslims in South Africa and throughout the world," the statement added.
Mandela provoked the anger of the Muslim community in November last year when he vocalized his support for the war against Afghanistan at a Washington press conference held after his meeting with U.S. President, George W. Bush.
In December, he reiterated his support for the war during a speech delivered at Durban's Grey Street mosque, saying Bin Laden should be captured and tried for the attacks.
At the time, the former president told the audience that Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network should be smashed and terrorist strongholds destroyed.
In response to the speech, angry Muslims said the elder statesman had no right to label bin Laden a terrorist when he had not been convicted in a court of law.
In his surprising about-face, Mandela said he wished to register his sincere regret "if the manner in which we stated our position gave any offence to Muslims in South Africa and throughout the world".
It was pointed out to him that such unreserved support for the war in Afghanistan gave the impression that "we are insensitive to and uncaring about the suffering of the Afghan people..."
Mandela's office said the labeling of Bin Laden as the one responsible the September 11 terror attacks in the United States before he had been convicted in court could also "be seen as undermining some of the basic tenets of the rule of law".
"Our opposition to all forms of terrorism remains total and we support the stance of our government in joining international efforts to combat and eradicate terrorism," Mandela's office also said.
Mandela plans to meet South African Muslim leaders early this year to convey this message to them.
http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2002-01/03/article44.shtml
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