1.
CU: South African Minister of Justice Jimmy Kruger speaks... to a reporter
1.05

2.
SV: British ambassador to South Africa, Sir David Scott speaking
1.38

3.
SV TILT DOWN: From South Africa House, London, to demonstrators on pavement.
1.42

4.
SV: Police outside building.
1.49

5.
SV & MV: People holding placards and chanting. (FIVE SHOTS)
2.13


KRUGER: "The following day he was again examined by a district surgeon and medically treated in Pretoria. That particular night, he was found to be dead in the cell. A post-mortem at the moment is being undertaken by the chief state pathologist together with another pathologist and in the presence of a private pathologist appointed by his relatives."



"From time to time there's a cause for judicial commissions of enquiry. What's your comment on this?"



KRUGER: It's no use having one judicial enquiry after another judicial enquiry - after another judicial enquiry. I mean, what are you trying to prove? And for certain people in this country let me assure you that no enquiry in the world will satisfy them excepting a finding of guilty on behalf of the (INDISTINCT) or something like that.



There's certain people you can never satisfy. If a man wants to believe something, you can never change his opinion."



BRITISH AMBASSADOR: "I learnt with profound shock of the tragic death of Mr. Steve Biko. We don't yet know the full circumstances of his death but it can only dispirit those who, like Mr. Biko himself, firmly believe in non-violent solutions to South Africa's problems. I believe that this is a sad day for all South Africans - both black and white. Thank you."




Initials JS/0100



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In South Africa, a wave of protest has broken out over the death of black leader, Steve Biko. Mr. Biko, aged 30, died while in detention on Monday night (12 September) after a 7-day hunger strike. He had been arrested last month for allegedly violating a restriction order confirming him to King William's Town. His death has increased demands for a full inquiry into the treatment of detainees as Mr. Biko is the 19th black to die in detention over the past 18 months. He was a founder member of the black South African Students Organisation and the Black People's Convention. The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Andrew Young has compared the impact of his death to that of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. On September 15, more than 1,200 students from the Forte Hare Black University, near King William's Town, were arrested charged with riotous assembly following a campus memorial service. However, Justice Minister James Kruger maintains there will not be an official inquiry.

SYNOPSIS: In London, Mr. Biko's death was almost met with 'profound shock' this time by demonstrators outside South Africa House. They claim he was the latest victim of apartheid and have accused the Vorster Government of murder and torture.

The demonstrators called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and detainees in South Africa. They all asked that all people support the armed struggle for power under the African National Congress.