Cable Briefs

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 6

Cable Briefs

20 Salvadoreans killed

Twenty people were killed; in politically motivated vio-j lence in El Salvador at thej week-end, the police have; said. Three churches, in-j eluding the metropolitan cathedral, remained occupied! by Leftists in support' of I other Leftists who have held Il hostages in the offices of the Organisation of American States since Wednesday. The police also reported eight bomb attacks, one of which destroyed a Roman Catholic Church-run radio station. At least 4000 people have died in El Salvador this year in battles between Left and Right-wing extremists and security forces. — San Salvador.

Wo’ to politics Rajiv Gandhi, the eldest son of the Indian Prime Minister (Mrs Indira Gandhi), has said that he will not be entering politics. Rajiv, aged 36, a pilot with Indian Airlines, has been under strong pressure from members of his mother’s ruling Congress (I.) Party to enter Parliament following the death of his brother, Sanjay, in a plane crash last June. Rajiv said that he would announce his final decision within the next few days and probably take up a course to fly jet airliners next week., — New Delhi.

Kingston murders Eight people were shot dead in Kingston, Jamaica, on Friday night (local time) in a continuing pre-election wave of violence. Six of the victims were shot in Majesty Gardens, a stronghold of the People’s National Party of the Prime Minister, (Mr Michael Manley). More than 400 people have been killed since Mr Manley announced a General Election would be held this year. — Kingston.

Ulster hotel attack Bombers attacked a County Fermanagh hotel at the week-end and left it a blazing ruin. Armed men burst into the hotel in Lisniskea and planted two devices, one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor. There were no reported injuries. — Belfast.

Deadly outbreak A total of 10 Britons have fallen ill with legionnaires’ disease after holidaying at a hotel in Benidorm, Spain. The man with the latest suspected case returned! a week ago after staying at the Rio Park Hotel. A 46-year-old man has died and there are five! other confirmed and four suspect cases among Britons who stayed at the hotel, recently. — London.

Surgery on baby South African doctors have carried out open-heart surgery on a baby only 18 hours after birth and there was now a good chance he would lead a normal life. Professor Rob Kinsley, head of the cardiac team at a Johannesburg hospital, said the baby, Edwin Smith, was one of the youngest patients in the world to undergo openheart surgery. Professor Kinsley said it was decided to operate because there was no blood flow between his right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. He said the baby’s heart stopped several times before and during the three-hour operation. — Johannesburg. i

Khmer Rouge offer The Khmer Rouge leader, Khieu Samphan, has told a group of journalists in a jungle camp that his forces are prepared to join with all other groups — including Right-wingers — in Kampuchea to drive out Vietnamese troops occupying the country, the English-language Singapore, newspaper "Straits Times” has reported. Mr Samphan was speaking to 14 specially invited journalists from Singapore Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines at a guerrilla camp in western Kampuchea near the Thai border. It quoted Mr Samphan as saying that the Khmer Rouge had learned from their past mistakes and now adopted a new, non-com-munist united-front programme. — Singapore.