Cable Briefs

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 6

Cable Briefs

Order to banks

The Reagan Administration has ordered United States banks to begin giving up more than $2OOO million in frozen Iranian deposits, routing the money toward an international tribunal that will decide disputes between' Iran and American companies and individuals. A second regulation ordered Americans to turn oyer an undetermined amount — estimated at $lOOO million to $2lOO million — in other Iranian assets ranging from securities' to oil equipment. But United States officials also said the Government would not force anyone to turn over the money until an “authoritative determination” had been made — probably by the Supreme Court — as to. the legality of the over-all United States-Iran agreement that led to the freeing of 52 American hostages. last month. — Washington.

Mugabe moderation

The Zimbabwe Government has unveiled its blueprint for creating a “socialist,. egalitarian and democratic state.” The .. 19-page document fell far short of the Marxist policies espoused by the Prime Minister (Mr Robert Mugabe) and his followers during the seven-year bush war against white rule. At that time, Mr Mugabe endorsed large-scale nationalisation of land ‘and strategic industries. The policy statement, however, veered closer towards a mixed economy. — Salisbury.

Zio foes held

Pakistan’s military authorities have arrested over a dozen leading opposition politicians who had led a campaign to oust General Zia-Ul-Haq from power and restore democracy in the country, opposition sources have said. The detentions were made by security policemen in pre-dawn raids on the three Punjab province towns of Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. Most of the detainees came from two parties which earlier this month helped set up a nine-group movement for the restoration of democracy to try to oiut General Zia The sources said earlier that scores of lower-ranking op position officials had beer jailed in what was describee as the biggest police swooj so far after two weeks o student protest demanding an end to martial _ law ant the holding of parliamentary elections. —Islamabad.

Suspended sentence

A round-the-world yachtswoman, Rosie Swale, was given a nine-month suspended jail sentence yesterday after being found guilty of poisoning a former boyfriend of her sex-change companion, Tracey Stamp. But the jury at the Winchester Crown Court was unable to reach a verdict on the same charge against Stamp who had an operation to make her into a woman 20 years ago.- Swale, aged 31, and Stamp, aged 45, were both conditionally discharged for 12 months after being found guilty of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The judge told Swale that administering poison must be regarded as a serious offence which would normally warrant a prison sentence. But he said that if ever there was a case which warranted a suspended sentence, it was hers. — London.

President re-elected

The South Korean. President Chun Doo Hwan has been overwhelmingly elected to a fresh seven-year term of office by an electoral college. His new constitution, proclaimed last October, prohibits Presidents from seeking a second term. The 50-year-old Mr Chun, who rose to national leadership as an Army strongman after the murder of President Park Chung Hee by his own intelligence .chief in late 1979 after 18 : years in power, was elected successor to former President Choi Kyu-Hah last October through an indirect V.ote, —