Cable Briefs

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 6

Cable Briefs

O.A.U. split A split between radical and moderate African States deepened yesterday as the radicals decided to hold a separate summit, ending a fortnight of efforts to hold a formal conference of the Organisation of African Unity. The Libyan Foreign Liaison Secretary (Mr Abdelati Obeida)' acknowledged for the first time that chances of reaching a 34-member quorum out of the 51-nation O.A.U. membership were remote. The Seychelles Foreign Minister (Mr Jacques Hodoul) said about 30 leaders and their representatives present in Tripoli, would begin their own radical conference today. — Tripoli. Rome Govt quits Italian Prime Minister, Gibvanni Spadolini's fiveparty coalition Government quit at the week-end after the powerful Socialist Party withdrew its seven Ministers from the 13-month-old administration. The Govern-

ment's resignation was announced at the end of a onehour cabinet meeting chaired by Mr Spadolini, who made history last vear as Italy's first non-Christian Democratic Prime Minister since 1945. — Rome. Car decision

U.S. car makers have complained that they will not have enough time to comply with a Federal Court decision requiring air bags or automatic seat belts in all 1984 model cars. Last year, in a move to reduce production costs for the troubled car industry, the Reagan Ad- ? ministration said it would lift a regulation requiring passive restraint systems in American cars. But yesterday the Appeal Court in Washington overturned the decision and said the car industry must comply with the regulation from September, 1983. Consumer and insurance groups hailed the court’s ruling saying it was a victory for road safety. — Washington.