SA military leaders 'planned assassinations'

Johannesburg (AP) - White military chiefs planned covert operations, including assassinations, against the African National Congress and other groups to stave off black militants in the mid-1980s, a black leader alleged yesterday. Maj-Gen Bantu Holomisa, military ruler of the nominally independent South African 'homeland' of Transkei, said the secret programme had the approval of a top security body which comprised P W Botha, then South African president and other senior politicians.

President F W de Klerk, Mr Botha's successor, belonged to the State Security Council and was present when operations were discussed, Gen Holomisa alleged. There was no immediate government reaction. Gen Holomisa released documents he alleged were secret government papers outlining a programme to create an independent black power bloc against the ANC and other militant groups.