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Marius Benson reports that Deputy President F.W. De Klerk and his National Party announced today that they will pull out of South Africa's government of national unity at the end of June. The move comes the day after parliament ratified the first post-apartheid constitution. After the next election in 1999, the constitution says the government will be based on majority rule, and De Klerk said the National Party wants to get an early start on establishing itself as a credible alternative to Nelson Mandela's African National Congress.

The future of Jerusalem and Jewish settlement on the West Bank was one of the most difficult issues faced today in Taba Egypt at the peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The talks entered their final phase today, as NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

NPR's Michael Skoler reports on today's presidential election in Uganda, the first fair election there in over thirty years. President Yoweri Museveni (yo-WHERE-ee moo-SEH-vuh-nee) is expected to win easily--while he has permitted candidates to challenge him, he has forbidden political parties from participating. Museveni--who has ruled Uganda since seizing power ten years ago--says his "no-party" system is a good democratic model for Africa, because it prevents ethnic and religious strife. The president's opponents say it's a thinly-veiled way to keep himself in power.

Weekend Edition sports commentator Ron Rapoport shares his thoughts about Brett Butler. This week, the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder told his family and teammates that he had cancer.

Host Liane Hansen speaks with Lt. Louis Fernandez of Dade-Metro ire and Rescue about the complexities of conducting a search and rescue peration in the middle of the Florida Everglades.

Beth Fertig of member station WNYC reports on an investigation by New York City and by the state that shows how the case of abused-to-death 6 year old Elisa was bungled...and how other cases have also slipped through the social welfare cracks.

Robert talks to NPR's Mara liasson about President Clinton's veto of legoslation to ban late-term abortions. The bill would allow the rarely-used procedure to be performed only if necessary to save the life of the mother. Mr. Clinton had lobbied unsuccessfully to have the exception made in cases where the mother's health was in jeopardy as well.

Mexico and reports on the business of smuggling illegal immigrants from Mexico into the U.S. Crossing the border has grown more difficult in the past few years... causing smugglers to drastically raise their prices. The U.S. is preparing to tighten security at the border even more in response to incidents of the past month. Yesterday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a version of an immigration bill that would reinforce the U.S. border patrol and crack down on smuggling.

NPR's Steve Inskeep has been following developments in a race for the congressional seat in Pennsylvania's 15th district, between incumbent Democrat Paul McHale and Republican challenger Bob Kilbanks. The contest is considered a toss-up and the kind of seat both parties say they need to win in order to control the House of Representatives. As in other congressional races, money has a major role. The piece focuses on where both candidates have gotten their money, and how that is affecting the race. (12:30). CUTAWAY 1C 0:59 1D 7. TRIMPIN. German-born, Seattle-based sound sculpturist. He creates assemblages of found and second-hand objects that make interesting musical sounds. Trimpin has earned international acclaim despite the fact that none of his work is in any museum collections anywhere...as soon as an exhibition is over, he dismantles the work and recycles the parts into new works. His works only exist in the memories of those who've seen and heard them. And Trimpin's works are inspired by memories of his childhood. He's created sound for Merce Cunningham's latest work, which is being performed tonight and tomorrow in Seattle. As tedious as all of this sounds, the SOUNDS THEMSELVES are a lot of fun. Deirdre Kennedy reports.

NPR's John Ydstie reports the economy showed signs of renewed strength in the first three months of the year. The Commerce Department says the nation's gross domestic product grew 2.8% in the first quarter, a faster rate of growth than most analysts expected. Healthy levels of cnsumer spending and business investment.