Cable briefs

Press, 12 March 1985, Page 10

Cable briefs

Candy demand Japan’s poison candy extortionists have struck again with a demand to five food firms in western Japan for 59 million yen ($443,543) apiece, a national daily reports. The “Asahi Shimbun” said the gang had made the demand in letters to executives of the firms from late in February to early this month. The gang, which calls itself “The Man With 21 Faces” after a 1930 s crime novel, did not say where the money should be delivered.— Tokyo. Indian offer

The Indian Government is prepared to forgo litigation if Union Carbide gives enough compensation to oil victims of the gas leak that killed 2500 people in December, says the Minister of Law, Mr Asoke Sen. India had not ruled out an out-of-court settlement between Union Carbide and the victims or their families.—New Delhi. Art/ for Mali

The United States will grant Mali, one of the world’s 10 poorest nations, SUSIB million in additional aid over three years, the Vice-President, Mr George Bush, said. He told a news conference at the end of his tour of three drought and famine-hit African nations that the money was for United States-sponsored economic reforms. More talks would be held with Mali on how the aid, subject to Congressional approval, could support policy changes the Malian Government lacked the means to undertake.—Bamako. offensive

Philippine troops backed by planes and helicopter gunships have launched a big offensive against Communist guerrillas in the north after 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush. Colonel Tirso Gador, provincial commander of the paramilitary Philippines Constabulary, said several hundred of his men had moved into the mountains around Pamplona, in Cagayan - province, 430 km north of Manila. The offensive was triggered by the killing last week-end of the 11 soldiers in an ambush by guerrillas of the Communist New People’s Army.—Manila.

Lightning deaths Fifteen people were killed by lightning in different parts of Zimbabwe on the worst day of a rainy season in which a record 132 people have died from lightning strikes. A police spokesman said all Sunday’s victims, including one family of five, were sleeping in huts in remote rural areas when their homes were struck as heavy storms swept across the country. Zimbabwe gets most of its September-April rains from violent electrical storms. Many thatch huts in lural areas are made with a metal cone on their rounded roofs, making them vulnerable to lightning. This rainy season, which began on September 20, has been one of the wettest ever after three years of drought. — Harare.