Bush signs bill to remove Mandela from terror list

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush signed a bill Tuesday which removes former South African President Nelson Mandela from a U.S. terrorism watch list.

Mandela and other members of the African National Congress (ANC) have been on the list because of their fight against South Africa's apartheid regime, which gave way to majority rule in 1994.

The bill, passed the U.S. Congress last week, gives the State Department and the Homeland Security Department the authority to waive restrictions against ANC members.

"He had no place on our government's terror watch list, and I'm pleased to see this bill finally become law," said Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 with F. W. de Klerk, the South African president and National Party leader who worked with Mandela to end apartheid.

Mandela who will turn 90 on July 18, replaced him as president in 1994 and served until 1999.