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Press, 13 March 1986, Page 10

Cable briefs

S2SOM aid offer

The United States House of Representatives has voted unanimously to approve a five-year, SUS2SO million ($478.38 million) aid measure for Northern Ireland, a signal of American support for a BritishIrish accord signed last year. The aid, which passed without opposition on a voice vote, will be considered by the Senate. —Washington. Killer executed A convicted killer, Charles Bass, whose case was the focus of a French documentary film about violent crime in America, has been executed by lethal injection. “I deserve this. Tell everyone I said goodbye,” officials quoted Bass as saying minutes before .his execution for the shooting of a Houston city marshal in 1979. Bass was 29.—Huntsville, Texas.

Aid team attacked Armed men have attacked offices of the humanitarian group World Vision in northern Ethiopia, killing a nurse and a female aid worker. Four people were injured in the attack and the gunmen abducted a fifth employee. The entire staff at the centre — about 35 people — was shifted out next day. No Western expatriates were among the tjastaff.—Addis Ababa.

Nkomo aides freed

Lieutenant-General “Lookout” Masuku and Vote Moyo, two former senior aides to Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Joshua Nkomo, have been released from detention. The Home Affairs Minister, Mr Enos Nkala, said both men had been advised they could be redetained if they did not co-operate with the Government. General Masuku, a former deputy Army commander, was freed on the ground of ill health.—Harare. New radio head Richard Carlson, a journalist who ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of San Diego in 1984, has been named acting director of the Voice of America. Mr Carlson, aged 45, has been director of the Office of Public Liaison for the United States Information Agency since December. The V.O.A. is the agency’s international broadcasting arm. Mr Carlson, winner of broadcasting’s Peabody, Headliners, and Golden Mike awards, and three Emmys, has also worked for the “Los Angeles Times” and United Press International. — Washington. Diver honoured A Royal Navy diver who saved the life of Simon le Bon anqL five others when the pofpStar’s £1 million

($2.78 million) yacht capsized has been, awarded the George Medal. Petty Officer Larry Slater, aged 32, showed "great fearlessness, superb stamina and unflinching courage in the face of enormous danger,” says the citation for the top civilian award for bravery.—London.