Mandela presents his concerns about AIDS policy to ANC committee

Simmering tension over South Africa's AIDS policy within government and ruling party ranks and between the former president, Nelson Mandela, and President Thabo Mbeki burst into the open this week.

Mr Mbeki's views on the origins of AIDS have paralysed the government, resulting in a consistent refusal to entertain forms of therapy that rely on antiretroviral drugs. Mr Mandela has allowed it to become known over the past months that he was concerned about both the policy and the lack of debate within the government surrounding it.

During several hours of high level discussion this week, Mr Mandela presented his concerns …