The death has been announced in South Africa of the former foreign minister and veteran of the fight against apartheid, Alfred Nzo.

He was seventy-four.

South African radio said Mr Nzo, who suffered a stroke last month, died earlier today at a hospital in Johannesburg.

He served as foreign minister from 1994 to 1999, being replaced after Thabo Mbeki was elected president.

He held the post of secretary general of the African National Congress in exile for more than twenty years from 1969.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service