White Zambian named acting president

Vice-President Guy Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish descent, is the first white leader of an African nation since F.W. de Klerk, the last president of apartheid.

The Zambian government says Vice-President Guy Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish descent, will become acting president of the southern African nation until elections are held within 90 days.

Mr. Scott became acting president on Wednesday following the death of President Michael Sata, who had been gravely ill in a London hospital. Sata died late Tuesday.

Mr. Scott is the first white leader of an African nation since F.W. de Klerk, the last president of apartheid, the South African system of white racist rule that ended in 1994.

Defence Minister Edgar Lungu announced that Mr. Scott will be acting president.