ARABS RALLY TO CAUSE

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 15

ARABS RALLY TO CAUSE

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

ALGIERS, May 30.

Algeria last night decided to send troops to the Middle East because of the worsening situation there.

This was one of several political, diplomatic and military measures decided on by the Algerian Government. The decision to send troops to join the Arab forces arrayed against Israel was made at an emergency defence meeting presided at by the Prime Minister, Colonel Houari Boumedienne.

Tunisia yesterday decided to drop, provisionally, her boycott of the Arab League because of the Middle East crisis.

An official statement said Tunisia was prepared to at-

tend Arab League conferences at all levels aimed at examining the present crisis. The statement said Arab embassies had been informed of this decision and the Tunisian delegation to the United Nations had been given instructions to take part in all Arab meetings on the crisis. Tunisia has boycotted all recent Arab League meetings mainly because of deep differences between President Habib Bourguiba and President Nasser.

About 10,000 people chanting “we want to fight” and “next stop Tel Aviv” heard the Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman, Ahmed Shukairy, declare last night that battle with Israel was imminent.

The rally was organised by Egypt’s only political organ, isation, the Arab Socialist Union. The Kuwait pavilion at Expo 67 closed its doors today because of Canada’s position in the Middle East crisis. A spokesman for the pavilion, displaying the way of life of the Middle East oil country, said: “We received a telegram from our Government this morning saying we must close.” Arab countries would boycott any shipping company whose vessels carried strategic materials through the Gulf of Aqaba to Israel, the Associated Press quoted the Arab Boycott Office as announcing in Damascus.

The office said the new ban applied especially to petroleum.