New South African body tapped for charter reform

A new advisory body, bringing nonwhites but not blacks into white- ruled South Africa's constitutional process, began its first session with a mandate to make recommendations for a new constitution. The 61-member President's Council, which replaces the former Senate, or upper house, consists of whites, members of mixed races, Indians, and Chinese. The council has been attacked and shunned by the official opposition and most leading nonwhites because it excludes the black majority.

Meanwhile, the Australian government has refused the state-owned airline, Qantas, permission to fly to South Africa, partly because of opposition to apartheid, official said.