Namibia talks collapse as South Africa balks

January 14, 1981

Namibian independence talks collapsed with South Africa's refusal to carry out UN plans for a cease-fire and free elections in the disputed South-West Africa territory. Spokesmen said that the week-long conference would end formally as scheduled but that any hope of agreement had been abandoned. The independence plan called for a cease-fire in March, an election campaign beginning in June, and general elections i n October.