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http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-23109,00.html
Last Rhodesian PM Ian Smith dead at 88From correspondents in London
November 21, 2007 08:01am
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THE former leader of white-ruled Rhodesia, Ian Smith, has died in South Africa aged 88, media reports say.
A family friend told the Associated Press Mr Smith died at a clinic near the South African city of Cape Town, where he spent his final years.
Longtime friend Sam Whaley said Mr Smith had been ailing for some time and recently suffered a stroke.
To many white Rhodesians, he was a kind of idol - "good old Smithy", to most blacks, his rule symbolised the worst of racial oppression.
Mr Smith defied the world in 1965 when he led a quarter of a million white Rhodesians in a unilateral declaration of independence from Britain rather than accept proposals for black-majority rule.
He remained prime minister until a guerrilla war forced him to accept a ceasefire and political settlement in 1979.
Elections were held the following year, when Rhodesia became the black-ruled republic of Zimbabwe, with Robert Mugabe as prime minister.
Mr Smith remained vocal in opposition to Mr Mugabe, even after the parliamentary seats reserved for whites were abolished in 1987.
RIP Uncle Ian.
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