SOUTH AFRICA: MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI IS SWORN IN AS ACTING PRESIDENT

(2 Feb 1997) English/Nat President Nelson Mandela's arch rival Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been sworn in as South Africa's acting president. Mandela appointed Buthelezi to fill the post while he is in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. Buthelezi said the gesture promoted a spirit of reconciliation in the country. South Africa's government has a new president... at least for little more than a day. Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who is the leader of the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, is acting president. He has assumed the position while President Nelson Mandela and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki attend a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mandela planned to leave Sunday and return Tuesday. Buthelezi was sworn in during a brief ceremony in Durban on Saturday morning. Any cabinet minister of the president's choice can fill the position. Many, including Buthelezi himself, were surprised by Mandela's choice of his arch-rival. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Nevertheless I think it should be emphasised that I see this as a gesture which is contribution to reconciliation between our parties which are in opposition to each other." (Question: "Were you surprised at the presidents decision?") "Wouldn't you not have been surprised yourself!" (laughs) SUPER CAPTION: Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Acting South African President Buthelezi's Inkatha party and Mandela's African National Congress fought a low-level civil war in the traditional Zulu homeland for more than a decade, leaving thousands dead. While the fighting has lessened, tensions in some areas remain high and Inkatha continues to push for autonomous powers for the region. Political analysts believe this gesture from Mandela to his arch rival is a strategy to keep Buthelezi in his coalition government of National Unity with the ruling African National Congress. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...