Death Sentence On O.A.S. Leader

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 13

Death Sentence On O.A.S. Leader

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) ALGIERS, April 14. Hundreds of European youths crowded the streets of Oran tonight after hearing a false report that the condemned Secret Army Organisation leader, Edmond Jouhaud, had escaped from his Paris prison.

A secret O.A.S. radio transmitter broadcast the report. United Press International said. The French Government in Paris immediately denied the report, and the demal was broadcast throughout Algeria. The Europeans chanted, sang. and rhythmically pounded out French Algeria rhythms when the false report was broadcast It said that General Jouhaud. condemned to death yesterday for heading the O.A.S. in the Oran area and five others had fled from their cells.

The announcement from Parts dampened the demonstration before it could lead to clashes. It came from the office of the Prime Minister, and said: ‘"This office formally denies that former General Edmond Jouhaud has escaped. He 13 still in prison.” But during the day, the O.A.S. tied up Algeria’s major cities with strikes protesting against Genera’ Jouhaud’s sentence In Oran four jeeps anJ a dozen cars filled with O.A S commandos paraded through the business district for, half an hour m open defiance of ‘-he French Army Lawyers for Jouhaud sought an audience with P-esident de Gaulle to plead for a reprieve—against the wishes of Jouhaud. who did not want to seek clemency A defence lawyer for the former general, Mr Yves

Perussel called at the Elysee Palace early today to make a written request tor an audience with President de Gaulle. Mr Perussel said later that the fate of Jouhaud would not be known until after Easier. The case would be considered by the High Council of the Magistrature. but the final decision rests with President de Gaulle, said MPeruseel. In Algiers, where firms and shopkeepers struck today in protest against Jouhaud’s death sentence, many Europeans were sure that President de Gaulle would commute the sentence to life imprisonment, the Associated Press reported. - 1