U.K. backs U.S. on Salvador

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 6

U.K. backs U.S. on Salvador

NZPA-Reuter 1 London Britain has announced its support for American policy on El Salvador; yesterday just after the British Prime Minister (Mrs ’ Margaret Thatcher) left for Washington for talks with President Reagan.

In a statement the Foreign Office said: “Her Majesty’s Government has now had an opportunity to study the informat: xt provided by the U.S. Government about arms supnlies to insurgent r •■□ups in El Salvador. '

“This clearly points to activities which can only be regarded as unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of El Salvador and her Majesty’s Government supports the Government of the United States in calling for this to end.” Last week, a United States State Department team toured European capitals showing officials what it said was evidence of Cuban and Soviet military aid to Leftist guerrillas in El Salw The Reanan Administration, has said it planned to step up anti-Communist activity in El Salvador based on the evidence. Earlier yesterday, 80 opposition Labour members of Parliament urged Mrs Thatcher to dissociate herself from United States policy on El Salvador, In El Salvador, Govern- 1 ment troops backed by planes fought pitched battles yesterday with guerrillas in the eastern province of San Vicente and residents fleeing the area said the fighting wasrthe worst they had seen in the region. Military spokesmen said Government troops occupied San Lorenzo, arid a nearby area -later in the day, forcing the guerrillas to flee the area.-