Crucial talks on Rhodesia

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 8

Crucial talks on Rhodesia

I NZPA-Reuter London. The Rhodesian nationalist; I leader. Bishop Abel Muzo-. rewa, has begun crucial! I talks with the British For-,, (eign Secretary (Dr David Owen) today during which *he will press for London’s], ] endorsement of the Rhodejsian independence internal i settlement signed last Friday : jin Salisbury. I The internal settlement . 'aimed at black-majority rule | 'and independence on Decern- < ber 31. this year, has been negotiated between Mr lan,, Smith, Prime Minister of the . white-minority Government, j and nationalist leaders living ■ inside the breakaway British]] colony. I But it has been strongly 11 ! condemned by the Patriotic ] Front guerrilla leaders, Mrp (Joshua Nkomo and Mr Rob- i ert Mugabe, who are based] ( outside Rhodesia. I

Dr Owen, in a radio inter- | view in London, said the internal settlement was a ! significant step, but added ; that it wks important now ; to involve all the nationalist I leaders in an agreement. He reiterated, hpwever, (that no one group could ‘have a vets. Dr Owea’s meeting comes after one here late last month with another internal nationalist leader who is parly to the Salisbury agreement, the Rev. Ndabaningi . Sithole. Dr Owen last week urged (the Patriots Front leaders ] along with Mr Sithole and Bishop Muzqewa to go to New York to address a projected United Nations Security Council Meeting on the Rhodesian disjute. African members of the world body hate called for a meeting of fhe Security Council, wh«se present President is Britain.