IN BRIEF

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31934, 11 March 1969, Page 15

IN BRIEF

Ceremony Marred The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of East Africa (Archbishop Nicodemous of Irinoupolis) was enthroned yesterday, despite a threat by a breakaway church group to prevent the ceremony. The police ejected one member of the breakaway group, the African Autonomous Orthodox Church, during the enthronement ceremony at the Church of St Nicholas, Namungoma.—Kampala, March 10.

Pondicherry Poll More than 200,000 voters went to the polls yesterday . in the former French territory of Pondicherry, India, to •elect a new Assembly. The main contest was between the Congress Party, which formed the last Government, and the D.M.K. (Dravida Munnetra Kazagham), which rules in neighbouring Madras. The mid-term poll ended six months of Presidential rule imposed when the Congress Government- collapsed.—Pondicherry, India, March 10. Guyana’s Aim Guyana, which will become a republic on February 23 of next year, hopes to remain in the Commonwealth. The Attorney-General (Mr S. S. Ramphal) announcing this over Guyana’s radio network, said Britain and other Commonwealth countries would be informed of this decision soon. The Government’s intension was to create a republic similar to that of India, he added.—Georgetown? March 10. Taiwan Accused The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister (Tun Abdul Razak) said today that despite denials from Taiwan, the Malaysian Government had evidence that the Taiwan Government was trying to attract the loyalty of Malaysian Chinese. “We have asked them to 1 stop these activities and they 1 have denied it,” Tun Razak said,- commenting on a report 1 from Taiwan, quoting “highly- 1 placed sources” as accusing ’ the Malaysian Minister of 1 Finance (Mr Tun Tan Slew'-

Sin) of “bluntly interfering in the affairs of Taiwan.”— Malacca, March 10. Popularity Poll . Support among Frenchmen for President de Gaulle has declined slightly, but he is still considered the best man for the Presidency, according to a poll published by the newspaper, “Figaro." The poll shows that 17 per cent considered no-one could do better than the General, compared with 19 per cent last December and 15 per cent in June. Thirteen per cent thought others would make a better President compared with 10 and 12 per cent in the previous polls.—Paris, March 10. Smith In Cape Town The Rhodesian leader (Mr lan Smith) is preparing in Cape Town for final talks with the South African Prime Minister (Mr John Vorster) before his countrymen vote on a Constitutional plan that would entrench white rule in Rhodesia. Mr Smith said when he arrived in Cape Town yesterday for a month’s holiday in South Africa, that he would soon have “a general discussion” with Mr Vorster.—Cape Town, March 10.

Volcano Erupts Mount Minamidake, an active volcano on Sakurajima Island, across the bay from Kagoshima, erupted yesterday, showering volcanic ash over the city, the Associated Press reported. Ashes covered the orange orchards of Sakurajima, but no casualties were reported. Smoke rose about a mile over the crater of the 3760 ft volcano.—Kagoshima (Japan), March 9. Rome Protest

A group of young Roman Catholics demonstrated in an orderly fashion against world hunger in St Peter’s Square yesterday while Pope Paul was giving his traditional Sunday midday blessing from a window of the Vatican. The police did not intervene as leaflets were distributed calling for "solidarity with victims of hunger and underdevelopment."—Vatican City, •March 10.