ELECTIONS PROMISED

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29800, 17 April 1962, Page 12

ELECTIONS PROMISED

Kudsi Restored In Syria (KZ Press Assn.—Copyright) DAMASCUS, April 15. President Nazem Kudsi of Syria last nisit announced “free and honest" elections were to be held for a new Parliament. He gave no timetable but said he would soon name an interim government. President Kudsi on Friday was reinstated as head of State by the Army, which ousted him in a coup 17 days ago. the Associated Press reported. Lae't night he pledged the Government would draw up a new constitution and submit it to a national plebiscite. He also promised Syrians a free referendum “for unity with other Arab countries, beginning with dear Egypt." Dr. Kudsi’s recorded speech was approved in advance by the Army High Command, the news agency said.

Earlier the Army opened Syria’s borders and called off an emergency curfew imposed after the coup. Political observers in Beirut interpreted Dr. Kudei’s speech as intending to return to the position in Syria on September 28 last year, when she seceded from the United Arab Republic. They said it seemed that Dr. Kudsi and the Army had reached a compromise agreement that the country should have a constitutional form of government—'but that this would nullify decisions made by the three Goverments formed since the secession. This, the observers said, would start again a tug of war over agrarian reform and. nationalisation laws between Right-wing and Leftwing elements in the country.