Cable briefs

Press, 15 August 1988, Page 10

Cable briefs

Tit for tat

South Africa has threatened to expel Argentia’s consul unless his Government revoked a decision to expel Pretoria’s envoy in Buenos Aires. A statement issued by the Foreign Minister, Pik Botha, said the Argentine consul, H. R. Basso, would have to leave unless the South African consul Dirk de. Wet was allowed to remain in Argentina. The diplomatic row broke out when Mr de Wet was ordered to leave Argentina after three South Africans took part in an unauthorised seminar organised by the consulate. — Johannesburg. Lima explosions Thirteen people were wounded in Marxist guerrilla bombings against three mining producers in Lima. Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement guerrillas detonated bombs at two State companys and one private mining company. The bombings coincided with a breakdown in negotiations between Government and union leaders of some 60,000 miners who have been striking for three weeks. — Lima. U.S. ‘unreasonable’ China’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. Justice

Department’s granting of political asylum to three Chinese couples who violated China’s strict family planning policies was "utterly unreasonable.” “There is no such thing as Chinese citizens being subjected to persecution for unplanned child-bear-ing,” the Ministry said. The outgoing AttorneyGeneral, Edwin Meese, approved requests for asylum from the Chinese families under new department guidelines that pertain to China’s family planning programme. — Peking. Minister resigns The Chief Minister of Karnataka state resigned after he was held responsible for bugging telephones of journalists and rival political leaders. Chief Minister Ramaishna Hegde said he quit his post on moral grounds, the United News of India news agency reported. — New Delhi. Wage rise Australia’s 7.3 million wage and salary earners will be entitled to a 3 per cent wage increase from September 1 this year and a further sAustlo increase six months later, the Arbitration Commission said. The commission set a 5.25 per cent limit on wage rises for the next 12 months. — Melbourne