S.Africa's Mandela urges release of British TV crew

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) -- Former South African president Nelson Mandela on Tuesday urged Liberian President Charles Taylor to release a British television crew who are being held on spying charges.

Mandela's spokeswoman Zelda la Grange told Reuters Mandela had made the appeal during a phone conversation with Taylor, a former warlord:

MESSAGE BOARD Journalists at risk

"Mr Mandela said that even if President Taylor had a water-tight case against the journalists, it would be a wonderful gesture from President Taylor if he could pardon and release them."

Mandela also told Taylor such a move would enhance his image and that of his country.

She said Taylor replied that there was "clear evidence in the case" but that he would need a day or two to investigate the matter and that he would then get back to Mandela.

Legal sources say the four journalists -- two Britons, a Sierra Leonean and a South African working on a documentary for Britain's Channel Four network -- face up to 10 years in jail if convicted.

They were charged with espionage on Monday.

Mandela, Africa's elder statesman, is often asked to resolve conflicts and diplomatic disputes. He is currently trying to mediate an end to the brutal civil war in the central African state of Burindi.

His biggest diplomatic coup came when he convinced Libya to hand over the prime suspects in the Lockerbie bombing case in return for the lifting of U.N. sanctions.

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