Cable Briefs

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 8

Cable Briefs

Call to O.A.U.

Ethiopia has called for an emergency session of the Organisation of African Unity as fighting for control of the Ogaden Desert rages between Somali insurgents and Ethiopian forces.—London. Marcos attacked The International Commission of Jurists has accused the Philippines leader (President Ferdinand Marcos) of maintaining martial law to perpetuate his own personal power and that of the military. In a 97-page report entitled “The Decline of Democracy in the Philippines,” the commission attacked the alleged torture of political prisoners in the Philippines, many of whom it said had been detained without trial since martial law was introduced in 1972. The Philippines Government had detained 60,000 people for various periods since the inception of martial law, the report said, adding that some 4000 were at present in custody, according to Government statistics.—Geneva.

Reporter barred The Rhodesian Government has not renewed the work permit of a British Broadcasting Corporation correspondent, Brian Barron, apparently because of a massacre report, the 8.8. C. has said. Barron, whose permit expired yesterday, was returning to Nairobi, a 8.8. C. spokesman said. He emphasised that the correspondent had not been expelled.—London. ‘lsrael uses torture 9 Ten American lawyers back from a three-week tour of Israel and Arab countries say the Israeli security agents often use torture to force confessions from prisoners in occupied territories. “We came away convinced that the Israeli Government implements a policy of torture for annexation of occupied areas,” said Mr John Quigley, leader of a delegation from the Left-wing National Lawyers Guild. Israel has denied similar accusations in the past.—New York. Nkorno visit ends

The black Rhodesian nationalist leader, Mr Joshua Nkomo, has ended a visit to Cuba during which he said he received assurances of further Cuban aid to his liberation movement.—Havana.