Cable Briefs

Press, 29 May 1978, Page 8

Cable Briefs

Defeat conceded President Joaquin Balaguer has conceded defeat to a Leftist cattle rancher, Antonio Guzman, and the Dominican armed forces have promised to abide by the outcome of the disputed elections. The Central Eleci tion Commission gave Mr i Guzman’s Revolutionary I Party 832,504 votes compared with 682,830 votes for President Balaguer’s Conservative Reformist party, with all but 33,000 votes counted. In addition to the Presidency, the Revolutionary Party won 13 of 26 Senlate seats, 48 out of 86 seats I in the Chamber of Deputies, | and 33 Mayorships of a total 'of 82. — Santo Domingo. : Sanctions plea j South Africa’s Prime Minister (John Vorster) has appealed to Britain and the United States to drop sanctions against Rhodesia and recognise the interim Government there, on behalf of South Africa I appeal to the British and American Governments: Why do you not co-operate with those Rhodesians who want peace?” Mr Vorster said at a public meeting. — Graaff Reinet. Criminal strikes A gunman who identified himself as Jacques Mesrine, France’s public enemy No. 1 has robbed the Deuaville Caisino cashier of SUSI3,OOO. I The police said two men carrying guns strode into the elegant resort casono and one said to the doorman: “I am Mesrine. You’ve heard of me. Take me to your cashier." Witnesses said the gunman resembled Mesrine who staged a spectacular break-out with another convict from Sante Prison in Paris on May 8. Mesrine, aged 43, had been serving a sentence for armed robbery and is wanted for the murder of two game wardens in Canada. — Deauville. Independence doubt Pacific Islanders of Micronesia. preparing to vote on the shape of their own Government after three deca4es as wards of the United States, are complaining that —regardless of their political status — economic realities will keep them dependent. The wealthiest part of the territory — the 16 northern Mariana Islands north of Guam — has split away to become permanent American territory. The other districts — the Mar* shall Islands, Ponape, Kosrae, Truk, Yap, and Palau — are poor. The estimated per capita gross domestic product decreased in four of the six districts between 1975 and 1977. —New York. Smith to retire

The Rhodesian Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) has announced an end to his stormy 13-year reign as head of the breakaway British colony. Mr Smith, aged 59, champion of white minority rule in Rhodesia from his unilateral declaration of independence on November 11, 1965, until the formation of an interim bi-racial Government 12 weeks ago, said he would not run for reelection when the new majority rule government takes over at the end of this year. “I have no intention of standing in the next election. By then my task will have been completed,” he told a news conference in Cape Town. — Capetown. Sporting offer

Argentina’s Left-wing Montoneros Guerrillas have indicated that they will not interfere with the World Cup, saying they want to see their national team win. A communique issued in Mexico City by the selfstyled Montonero Army ' Commander, Horacio Mendizabal, said his guerrillas in Argentina had been ordered to keep any action at least 600 m away from cup stadiums and to avoid activities endangering team members, spectators, tourists, and journalists. “We want it to be held because Argentines like football, and we want to see our selection win,” the communique said. — Mexico City. Record pushed up A Roman Catholic priest in Brisbane has claimed the world push-up record Watched by a large crowd of supporters, Father Leo Cootes managed 1582 pushups in 30 minutes in the sunroom of the Joan of Arc presbytery at Herston on Saturday. Fr • Cootes. who ' frequently moaned “God help us” during his attempt, i claimed later he had (smashed the previous world i record held by an Englishman by more than 45 pushups. Fr Cootes, who held the world record in 1975 and 1976, averaged 26 push-ups every 30 seconds. — Brisbane.

Abortion condemned Addressing a crowd of 10,000 people Pope Paul has attacked abortion as a crime against an innocent and defenceless creature and said that human life is sacred from its beginning in the mother’s womb. The Pope’s remarks were his first public comment since the Italian Parliament gave final approval to one of Europe’s most liberal abortion laws. The law allows abortion on demand in the first 90 days of pregnancy. "How much greater is the possibility offered to commit a crime against an innocent and defenceless creature,” the Pope said. — Rome.