South Africa: Mbeki Responds Positively to Nigerian Polls

26 April 2007
allAfrica.com

Cape Town — The South African government has given an early signal of its response to Nigeria's disputed elections by both congratulating President-elect Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and appealing to Nigerians to use "peaceful and constitutional means" to redress their election grievances.

In a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the government said President Thabo Mbeki had wished Yar'Adua well and assured thim that South Africa was ready to "extend a hand of solidarity with the people of Nigeria."

Mbeki had also identified himself with a statement in which the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said Nigerian authorities should empower electoral tribunals quickly to resolve all disputes.

Reuters news agency reported from Abuja that most countries had responded to the elections with either silence or criticism, and that South Africa's was the first "positive message" from a foreign government.

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