BBC News - Tuesday, 16 October, 2001
The report, a copy of which was leaked to the South African media more than a week ago, is warning that between five and seven million South Africans could die from Aids by 2010.
Many experts say it gives the most authoritative picture so far of the impact of the disease.
But the government says its findings are not reliable and its release was delayed for several weeks, apparently because of government pressure.
The Medical Research Council, which is largely government funded, says that about 40% per cent of adult deaths in South Africa are now caused by Aids.
Doubts
But South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, has well publicised doubts about the link between HIV and Aids, and he is yet to be convinced of the scale of the epidemic.
Ministers close to the president have disputed the methodology used by the MRC, but Aids activists and doctors are dismayed by the row.
Church leaders and trade unions say that time and energy are being wasted, when action to stop the spread of Aids should be the priority.
South Africa is believed to have the highest number of Aids and HIV sufferers in the world - officially estimated at 4.7 million.
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