Cable Briefs

Press, 26 November 1979, Page 8

Cable Briefs

‘Slush’ refund A South African fertiliser magnate, Louis Luyt, said yesterday that he had refunded more than sl4million of South African Government money given to him secretly to establish the newspaper, the “Citizen.” State funding of the “Citi-' izen,” which was aimed at improving South Africa’s image abroad, by the Government’s Information Department was at the centre of the “slush funds” scandal that toppled President John Vorster. Mr Luyt, who as a wealthy businessman was chosen to front the covert project, told reporters he had given the money back to a State board charged with winding up the financial side of the scandal. —Johannesburg. Upset over oil Saudi Arabia has threatened to raise its oil prices unless the United States taxes the windfall profits of oil companies, the United States Treasury Secretary (Mr William Miller) has told reporters after a meeting with Saudi officials. Mr Miller said Saudi Arabia felt it was being taken advantage of by the companies. It charges SUSIB a barrel for its crude oil, a relatively low price designed to relieve inflationary pressures. Other exporters charge $U523.50 a barrel or more, and “spot 1 market” prices range far [higher. Mr Miller said Saudi [officials were “very upset” ;because they suspected the 'oil companies were '-selling their oil at higher market [ prices instead of passing 'benefits along to the consumer.—Riyadh. Klan arrests Twenty-three Ku Klux Klan and Nazi Party members have been arrested on weapons charges in a raid on the apartment of a Klan leader a few hours before a scheduled White Power rally, the police have said in Millville, New Jersey. State and local policemen obtained a search warrant and arrested 21 men and two women, including three juveniles, at the apartment of a local Klan leader, Edward Reynolds. The police confiscated firearms, knives, clubs, and shields. Those arrested were jailed pending a bail hearing. About 250 people, including members [of the Committee against I Racism of Philadelphia and the World Workers' Party, lheld an anti-Klan rally at a ipark in nearby Vineland where the Klan rally was tc be held. —Millville.

Bomb threat While the authorities were; investigating bombings at J ! three military installations l yesterday, threats warning; 'of more blasts in Chicago [ 'were made by an anonymous telephone caller to two news i organisations. The caller,: i;claiming to be a member of lan Iranian student organisa-: ::tion, said bombs would explode somewhere near the . Loop — Chicago’s central [[district — within 36 hours. ':— Chicago. ' Climbers die : At least four climbers j were killed in accidents on . the 3776 m Mount Fuji on Saturday as some 2000 i people climbed its snow-cov- ’ ered slopes. The victims, all j men, died after they fell » down the mountain slopes ’ where snow was loosened by ■ overnight rain. So far this ’(year, a total of seven climtjbers are known to have died ion Mount Fuji. — Tokyo.