Cable briefs

Press, 2 May 1988, Page 10

Cable briefs

Divisions seen A former British Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Whitelaw, has predicted divisions in the Conservative Party when Margaret Thatcher retires as leader. In a magazine interview to be published this week, he offered some criticisms of Mrs Thatcher but said history would judge her on a par with Churchill. He said the Prime Minister lacked “ a certain hesitancy” but got away with it because she was so successful. — London. Cheating out The fault-riddled rock layers under the Nevada desert diminish shock waves from underground explosions,, but tests showed cheating under a nuclear test ban still could be detected, scientists said. Experiments using buried charges of conven-

tional explosive and a network of sensitive instruments proved that even the smallest explosions could be monitored, a research geophysicist, Holly Eissler, said. — Deep Springs, California. 46 kill ed The deaths of two United States helicopter pilots during the latest United States—lran fighting in the Gulf has raised to 46 the number of Americans killed in and near the Gulf in the last year. The figure includes 37 killed in an Iraqi missile strike on the frigate USS Stark last May. — Manama, Bahrain. Thousands march Thousands of homo-sexual-rights supporters marched through London to protest at Government

plans to ban the promotion of homosexuality. Organisers said 50,000 people were expected to join the march to make it the biggest demonstration by homosexuals and lesbians ever seen in Britain. — London. Papal audience The Japanese Prime Minister, Noboru Takeshita, on his first official trip to Western Europe, discussed world peace and Japan’s global role with Pope John Paul at the Vatican yesterday, officials said. As is customary, the Vatican did not disclose what was said during the 30-minute private audience but Japanese officials said the two men discussed Mr Takeshita’s view that his country should contribute more to world affairs. — Vatican City.