Sunday Times reported that South African government's response will follow the direction taken by multi-lateral institutions and it will therefore consult with the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations.

A senior government official was quoted as saying "if Iraq is not expelled from the UN, there is no justification for us closing down its mission."

"There are no immediate internal or bilateral reasons for us to want to sever ties with Iraq. In our view, Iraq has not done anything wrong to require us to expel them," said the official.

South Africa is one of 62 nations which received the US petition to shut down Iraqi diplomatic offices until a new authority is in power in Baghdad.

According to the report, President Thabo Mbeki has appointed a ministerial committee to assess the impact of the war in Iraq on South Africa.

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma leads the committee comprising Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The committee is to report to the cabinet on an ongoing basis on issues relating to South Africa, such as the fluctuating oil price, economic and trade repercussions and the security situation.

Government strategists said that South Africa will not seek to amend its foreign policy or relations with other states due to the war.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2003)