The World - News from April 10, 1987

The United States and Britain vetoed a resolution in the U.N. Security Council calling for mandatory sanctions against South Africa for blocking the independence of Namibia (South-West Africa). West Germany also voted against the resolution, but because it is not a permanent member, its vote did not count as a veto. Nine nations in the 15-member council voted for the resolution, three abstained. The four-day debate on the resolution reflected black African frustration over South Africa’s repeated delays in implementing a 10-year-old Security Council plan for independence for Namibia, which Pretoria has ruled since 1920.