Cable briefs

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 10

Cable briefs

French strike France’s public sector workers have downed tools in their most determined pay protest since the Left came to power in 1981. The oneday strike by the nation’s six million civil servants disrupted air, road and rail communications and led to power cuts affecting one fifth of France’s 25 million consumers. — Paris. Geneva talks The chief United Slates strategic arms negotiator has said the Soviet leader, Konstantin Chernenko, should make good his call for “real action” to improve Ameri-can-Soviet ties by returning to the suspended talks in Geneva. — Washington. M.P. dies One of Queensland’s best known members of Parlia-

ment, Kevin Hooper, has died suddenly in Brisbane. Mr Hooper was aged 55. Labour Party sources said he suffered a heart attack after surgery for an obstruction in a neck blood vessel. — Brisbane. New Ministers The Bangladeshi President has appointed five new Cabinet Ministers in a reorganisation which opponents said was aimed at stemming their campaign to end two years of military rule. Two coalitions combining 22 opposition parties attacked the move, saying it was a ploy. — Dhaka. S.A. pact The South African Prime Minister, Mr P. W. Botha, and the President of Mozambique, Mr Samora Machel, will sign a non-aggression pact near the common

border. The signing will be a culimination of top-level meetings between the two countries after years of hostility. — Cape Town. Aquino hearing Two witnesses have testified that the Philippines opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, was shot on a plane stairway, contradicting Government assertions that a Communist assassin fired at him on the ground. If true, the testimony by private security guards would point to a soldier as the probable killer. — Manila. Heavy battle Government troops have clashed with Leftist guerrillas in heavy fighting in an area of eastern El Salvador which the Army is trying to secure before Presidential elections on March 25. — San Salvador.