Cable briefs

Press, 31 March 1983, Page 6

Cable briefs

Heavy fighting Heavy fighting between Muslim rebels and Soviet and Afghan forces has broken out in the opening of (northern) spring offensives by both sides in Afghanistan, report Western diplomats. They said that mule trains were bringing food and other supplies into Afghanistan’s second largest city, Kandahar, because roads leading into the city of about 150,000 people were cut off by the fighting.—lslamabad. ‘Death dealers' A main Harare hospital is being plagued by bodyhunters, small-time unofficial undertakers, reports the Government information service. “They have come to be known as the death dealers as their business thrives on dead bodies,” it said. The dealers, who have mushroomed over the city, visit Harare hospital every morning and their first question to attendants is “how many dead today?” it reported.— Harare. Oil threat A colossal Iranian oil slick is breaking up into patches and is moving towards various countries in the Persian Gulf region, threatening to trigger what officials described as an uncontrollable environmental disaster of unprecedented proportions.— Raging bull A raging bull rammed a 38-tonne lorry, attacked its driver, dented a police car and tried to gore a vet in Birmingham, England. Marksmen shot it dead after a three-hour chase.—Birmingham. • Ship idea Two American military analysts have suggested that the United States give Australia a mothballed aircraft carrier to join American ships of the Indian Ocean. The analysts, Reginald Brown and Alvin Cottrell of the Georgetown Centre for Strategic Studies, made the suggestion in a study given to the Australian Embdjp ini Washington.—Washington