News In Brief

South African denied a Belgian welcome . . .

The Belgian government waived the usual official welcome accorded to foreign dignitaries and instead ushered South African Prime Minister Pieter W. Botha through the cargo terminal on his arrival at Brussels airport.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized that Thursday's meeting - being held well out of the way in a secluded castle on the outskirts of Brussels - was at Pretoria's request and not at the invitation of the Belgian government.

''Belgium firmly opposes the Pretoria government's apartheid regime as well as the Bantustan homeland policy,'' the spokesman said. ''Belgium supports without reservation the independence of Namibia (South-West Africa).''