News In Brief

S. Africa fights guerrillas in Angola, rejects UN vote

South Africa said Saturday its forces killed 324 Soviet-directed Namibian (South West African) nationalist guerrillas and Cuban and Angolan soldiers in a three-day battle last week in southern Angola.

In Pretoria, Foreign Minister Roelof F. Botha issued a stinging rejection of a United Nations Security Council resolution Friday which called for South Africa to withdraw its troops from Angola. He reaffirmed his country's determination to repel attacks on Namibia from whatever source, no matter what world opinion said. The resolution was approved by 13 votes to none Friday with the US and Britain abstaining.

UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar has been asked by both Angola and the South West Africa People's Organization, whose guerrillas fight South African rule of Namibia, to help arrange a ceasefire among the opposing forces. South Africa has rejected all previous UN calls for a ceasefire, troop withdrawal, and free elections in Namibia.