Cable Briefs

Press, 24 November 1980, Page 8

Cable Briefs

Cellist honoured Jacqueline de Pres, the gifted cellist whose career ended seven years ago when she was stricken with ■multiple sclerosis, has been named Britain’s musician .of the year. The annual award from the Society of Musicians was presented 4o the wheelchair-bound Miss du Pres, aged 35, by Lady Barbirolli, president of the society and widow of the great British conductor, Sir John Barbirolli. It was awarded in recognition of the cellist’s contribution fto British music in the past and her "brave and effective return to the music scene" as a teacher.—London. < Baby's return A Tennessee judge has ordered State social workers to return a 6-month-old baby to his parents, even though they own seven ... python snakes and a boa constrictor. "I don’t view these snakes as any more dangerous than people who have German Shepherds or Dobermann pinschers that atattack people,” said Circuit Judge Ed Williams "I don't attach any significance 'to the snakes.” Officials frdm the State Human Services Department took custody of the baby in July soon after the child was discharged from a hospital after treatment for head injuries. In Dallas earlier this month, the police said a pet 2.5 m long python crawled into the crib of a sleeping baby and ‘ crushed her to death. .—Johnson City, Tennessee.;

New Government The new military leaders ef the West African State of Guinea-Bissau have announced .a provisional gffvemment which includes seven Ministers, from the ousted administration of President Luis Cabral, Portuguese radio has reported. But ths Cabinet list issued by the self-proclaimed Council of the Revolution, which seized power last week, left many.posts vacant, including . the key positions of Pririte Minister and Defence Mints- ■ ter. Earlier, Portuguese radio ■. quoted the coup leader, j Major Joao Bernardo Vieira, j as saying that more than; 500 political prisoners were . executed during the six-yesr rule of the deposed Presi* dent CabraL Foreign journalists and diplomats were taken to see the mass graves, of about 200 people executed; over the last two years,' the, i radio said.—Lisbon. - , ;