Botswana Arrests 2 South Africans in Clash
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Page 1 135 of 222 DOCUMENTS The New York Times June 22, 1988, Wednesday, Late City Final Edition Botswana Arrests 2 South Africans in Clash BYLINE: Special to the New York Times SECTION: Section A; Page 12, Column 5; Foreign Desk LENGTH: 220 words DATELINE: JOHANNESBURG, June 21 The Botswana police arrested two white South African commandos early today after a gun battle in which three policemen were wounded, the Government of the neighboring black-ruled nation said today. A statement said the South African commandos opened fire on the Botswana police after the officers surprised them near a railroad line at Kgale mission, 12 miles south of Gaborone, the capital, near the border with South Africa. Botswana authorities said the commandos, whom they identified as Cpl. Johannes Basson, 25 years old, and Theodore Hermanhen, 30, were planning a raid on Gaborone. The statement said one of the policemen wounded was in critical condition. Botswana's President, Quett K. Masire, accused South Africa of an ''act of state terrorism.'' The Pretoria Government's forces have launched raids into Botswana each year for the last four years, ostensibly to strike at targets of the outlawed African National Congress. Botswana denies that it provides transit facilities to the guerrillas. The South African military said in a statement tonight that an army patrol engaged in a mission against African National Congress guerrillas was involved in a ''skirmish'' with Botswana police early today. It added that the men had been gathering information in connection with suspected infiltrators. LANGUAGE: ENGLISH Copyright 1988 The New York Times Company.