De Klerk talks on U.S. vote

RENO -- Former South African President F.W. de Klerk said Wednesday that any of the three remaining U.S. presidential hopefuls would do a "reasonably good job" in terms of foreign policy.

De Klerk declined to disclose his pick for the White House during a question-and-answer session after a speech at the University of Nevada, Reno. He noted that Republicans have made "an early decision" that Sen. John McCain is the best choice while Democrats "seem to be quite far from deciding" between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"I don't know in my heart who will be the next president. I think that internationally, anyone of the three will do a reasonably good job," said South Africa's last white president and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

On other topics, de Klerk said that there are many more democracies in Africa now than 15 or 20 years ago. He also said he is confident democracy will continue in South Africa.

De Klerk took over as president of South Africa from hard-line white nationalist P.W. Botha in 1989. Six months later, he freed anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison and launched negotiations that culminated in South Africa's first all-race elections in 1994.

In regard to other African countries, de Klerk said Mozambique and Angola are "two successes," both moving toward peaceful democracy.

Zimbabwe does not have a civil war but continues "civil oppression," he said.

But "it appears there is a strong possibility that this election will result in a change of leadership in (President Robert) Mugabe stepping down," de Klerk said.