afrol News, 10 April - In a bid to lift travel restrictions on South African leaders, including Nelson Mandela, the United States government has introduced a bill to the congress.

The bill seeks to remove from databases any reference linking the governing African National Congress (ANC) and its leaders to terrorism.

In the absence of a waiver, the ANC leaders cannot enter the country, a situation US officials described as "embarrassing."

"It is frankly a rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterparts, the foreign minister of South Africa, not to mention the great leader, Nelson Mandela," US Secretary of State, Ms Condoleezza Rice told the congress in Washington.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, who had ealier tabled the bill, said it was "shameful" for the US to still treat the ANC as a terrorist organisation.

"Amazingly, Nelson Mandela still needs to get a special waiver to enter the United States based on his courageous leadership of the ANC. What an indignity. This legislation will wipe it away," Howard Berman said.

ANC - Africa's existing oldest party - was outlawed and labeled a terrorist organisation by the former aparthei government of South Africa. Banned in 1960, several leaders of the ANC were either imprisoned or forced into exile.

Mr Mandela was jailed for 27 years before being released. He later became the president of South Africa.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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