Namibian leader says status is up to a vote

Sam Nujoma, leader of the South-West African People's Organization (SWAPO), said it would be up to the Namibian people to decide in free elections who was the authentic representative of the disputed territory. The guerrilla leader had been asked whether SWAPO still insisted on this United Nations-accorded status once a UN-backed peace plan was put into effect after a cease-fire in the 14-year-old bush war.

The UN-sponsored multiparty conference is seeeking to set a date for a cease-fire leading to Namibian independence by the en d of this year.