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Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33874, 20 June 1975, Page 13

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Strikers arrested

Police have arrested about 800 striking transport workers in Tamil Nadu state in southern India during a twoday walk-out in support of higher wages. A further 1600 had been suspended from work. — New Delhi, June 19. Fire hanged Five people were hanged for murder on Tuesday at the central prison in Pretoria, bringing to 19 the number of people hanged in South Africa in the last month. — Pretoria, June 19. SUSIOOm loan

A SUSIOOm loan granted by Saudi Arabia earlier this month would be used to finance a West Java irrigation project and a trans-Jrva highway, the information Minister (Mr Mashuri) announced. The loan is repayable in 20 years and carries 2 per cent to 4 per cent interest. — Jakarta, June 19. Ships laid up

More than 100 Norwegian merchant vessels or 10.9 million tons deadweight were now laid up as a result of depression in the international freight markets, the Norwegian “Journal of Commerce and Shipping” reported. This represented about 25 per cent of Norway’s merchant fleet. Of the laidup tonnage, 80 ships totalling 8.8 million tons D.W, were tankers. Only six drycargo vessels were laid up at present, the newspaper said. The Oslo newspaper, “Aftenposten,” said the danger that Norway’s tanker fleet, one of the world’s foremost, should be sold to foreign and particularly Arab interests, was increasing. — Oslo, June 19.

Unionist shot

T\vo gunmen opened fire on a former union official yestierday and shot him to death as he walked from his suburban Tigre home. Police souitces said that the gunmen killed Fidel Qutros, former official of the StoneCutter’s Union, and fled before police arrived. In the industrial city of Santa Fe, police sources said that bombs were hurled at the homes of three union leaders. No injuries were reported amd the extent of damage was unknown. — Buenos Aires, June 19.

Ambassador killed The Mali Ambassador, Mr Aliounie Sissoko, aged 52, marrieid, with one child, was shot and killed by his chauffeur yesterday for no apparent reason, the Embassv sand. — Brussels, June 19. Laotiian king invited

The [Soviet Union has invited King Sisavang Vatthana and his wife for a visit in. September, the Soviet Embassy said. The Embassy spokesman said that the invitation was from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. ■ The Laotian King visited Russia in 1963 and 1966. The French Embassy has announced that King Sisavang; Vatthana will visit France in early September with tile Prime Minister (Prince Souvanna Phouma) and other Laotian officials. — Vientiane, June 19.

Mrs Meir has sciatica

The former Israeli Prime Minister, Mrs Golda Meir, aged 77, is in hospital with sciatica of the hip and leg. It is her - fourth stay in a hospital since January. — Jerusalem, June 19.