Cable briefs

Press, 31 January 1983, Page 8

Cable briefs

Fuel leak Engineers at the Kennedy Space Centre have discovered the source of a fuel leak that has delayed the maiden voyage of the space shuttle, Challenger. The leak of hydrogen fuel, detected in a test-firing of the craft’s three engines last December, was caused by a 2cm crack in the combustion manifold of the No. 1 engine. The engine will be replaced and officials said that they predicted that Challenger would take off in . March. — Cape Canaveral. Murder claim Allegations by the Zimbabwe Opposition leader, Joshua Nkoino, that 95 innocent civilians had been murdered by Government troops have been dismissed by the Government. One of the supposed victims, a former President, said he was alive and well. — Harare. Roads blocked The French police have blocked roads and searched cars to enforce a Government ban on demonstrations by anti-nuclear campaigners and steelworkers in Ardennes. More than 1000 police patrolled an area where riots nave erupted. They have arrested 23 people carrying iron bars, anti-tear gas goggles, and slings containing • steel balls. The demonstrations began in protest

against Government plans to site a nuclear power station at Chooz. — Givet. Threat to chips The sale of French fries by the “Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken” chain is threatened by assertions that the fried potatoes are not religiously suitable for consumption by Muslims. The operator of the chain said that the chips were halal (acceptable to Muslims) as they had been pre-cooked in the United States With vegetable shortening and not beef fat. Nevertheless, the company is withdrawing sales of the imported French fries pending clarification of their halal : status by the Religious Af- . fairs Division. — Kuala Lumpur.