Mbeki gets top ANC post

The African National Congress yesterday named its international-affairs chief, Thabo Mbeki, as chairman in a move senior ANC sources said made him heir apparent to Nelson Mandela, Reuter reports from Johannesburg.

Mr Mandela said Mr Mbeki was elected at the weekend. He replaced the former president, Oliver Tambo, who died in April.

The ANC also apologised unreservedly for human-rights abuses in its detention camps, but said compensation and punishment should be decided by a 'Commission of Truth', which would examine violations by white as well as black forces during apartheid.