Cable briefs

Press, 24 May 1985, Page 6

Cable briefs

Inmate strangled Prisoners in a crowded jail in east-central Brazil beat up and then strangled another cellmate, bringing to 13 the number of prisoners killed in a protest against bad conditions. — Rio de Janeiro. Toll rises The death toll from a capsized oil-drilling rig rose to 10 yesterday after divers recovered four more bodies from the interior of the submerged platform in the Gulf of Mexico. — Morgan City. Minister convicted A Lutheran lay minister was convicted of conspiring to bomb 10 abortion clinics in three states and the District of Columbia. The United States District Court jury also found Michael Bray, aged 32, guilty of one count of obtaining destructive devices but acquitted him of two other counts of obtaining destructive devices. — Baltimore. Ears a tribute The giant false ears that the police removed from a rooftop, suspecting they were meant to ridicule Prince Charles, were a tribute to a character in a popular children’s book. The owner of the 1-metre by 2metre ears, a former politician, Mr Geoff Dodds, said the ears had nothing to do with the heir to the British throne. “The police seemed to think the ears had something to do with the royal visit, but in fact it is just because I have been a lifelong fan of Enid Blyton and her books about Noddy and Big Ears are particular favourites of mine.” — Sunderland. Tourist has A.I.D.S. A young Zambian pregnant woman has been admitted to hospital in Perth suffering from A.I.D.S. The woman, aged 28, who was holidaying in Perth, is seven months pregnant. — Perth. Macao talks China said it had agreed to hold formal talks with Portugal on the future of Macao, first settled by the Portuguese more than four centuries ago. The tiny enclave of gambling casinos adjoins the mainland. — Peking.