PRESSURE ON TOURE?

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 19

PRESSURE ON TOURE?

iSavaJ base report (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON. The Soviet Union is reported to be seeking a naval base on the West African coast from which its warships could patrol sea lanes connecting Europe with Latin America and South Africa. United States intelligence sources said that there have been recent indications that the Soviet Union is putting pressure on President Toure of Guinea for permission to build a naval base on an island off Conakry, the Guinean capital. The Russians have stationed small naval forces near Conakry since President Toure appealed for Soviet Union help after Portu-guese-led rebels tried to overthrow him more than three years ago; and last year Russian merchant ships were observed landing at least 30 armoured vehicles and more than a dozen multiple rocket launchers at Conakry, to greatly enhance the Guinean Army’s firepower and armour. It was reported later that President Toure had agreed to allow Russia to fly longrange T 95 reconnaissance bombers from Conakry's airfield for patrols over the Atlantic, in return for firm assurances that the Soviet Union would defend Guinea.