Soames says he'd void tainted voting in Rhodesia

Lord Soames, the British colonial governor, assumed powers Tuesday to cancel independence elections in any part of Rhodesia because of growing political violence and intimidation. Official sources said he presented his order to the British Election Commission supervising Rhodesia's return to legal independence and that it would be published as an ordinance. The sources said the order gives Lord Soames power to disenfranchise any voting area in the country where he feels intimidation by one or more parties threatens a free and fair election.

Robert Mugabe, a guerrilla leader, had previously charged that Lord soames' policies were to blame for recent attmepts on his life.