News In Brief

Congress weighs ban on loans by US banks to South Africa

American bank loans to the South African government would be banned under a measure attached by a House-Senate conference committee to legislation extending the Export Administration Act.

The South Africa provision would ban all future US bank loans to that country's government and corporations it controls. The loans now amount to between $350 million and $400 million. Approval of the ban would mark the first congressional sanction against South Africa for its racial-separation policy.