S.A. police shot in Rhodesia

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33480, 11 March 1974, Page 13

S.A. police shot in Rhodesia

X 7 P A Reuter—Copyright • SALISBURY. March 10.

Rhodesian troops supported b\ helicopters maintained a search of the Victoria Halls area today for guerrillas who killed lour South \frican policemen in an ambush on Friday.

The troops were rushed into the district after a dash on the banks of the Zambesi River, which marks the border between Rhodesia and Zambia, about *exen miles and a half from the Victoria Falls.

Another South African policeman, the leader of the ■five-man patrol which ran into the guerrilla ambush, 'was listed as missing alter the exchange of gunfire. Unconfirmed reports said a contingent of police reinforcements from South Africa was also flown to the area after the clash.

African nationalist guerrilla incursions from the north are regarded as much a threat to South Africa as to Rhodesia, and police units trom the republic have been assisting Rhodesian security forces since August 1967.

A brief statement issued in Pretoria today said only that four South African | policemen died on Friday "in contact with terrorists in 1 Rhodesia.” BORDERS MEET A Rhodesian communique issued in Salisbury last night placed the incident at the Kandahar fishing camp in the Victoria Falls National Park, between the Victor-1 ia Falls township and Kaza-| ngula. Kazangula is a small frontier post on the Zambesi at a point whc.e the borders of Zambia. Botswana, the

Caprivi Strip and Rhode*ia meet The Rhode.-.an Government has repeatedly accused Zambia of harbouring African national guerrilla* Friday's at lack coincided with a visit to the Victoria Falls by the South African Minister of Police. (Mr Louwrens Muller), but observers said the timing was probably accidental.