Cable briefs

Press, 26 September 1988, Page 8

Cable briefs

Diplomat ‘proud’ A Cuban diplomat, expelled from Britain after he shot at a former Cuban intelligence agent, said in an interview he was proud he tried to kill “the miserable traitor.” The official Government newspaper, “Granma,” printed a two-page interview with Carlos Medina, a former commercial attache expelled by London after the September 12 incident in which he fired on Florentino Azpillaga.— Havana. Reagan purchase? The “Today” newspaper said President and Mrs Reagan were planning to surprise the world by buying an English home, close to Windsor Castle. The property, called Park Place, is on 6.1 ha of parkland. The Georgian mansion, with five bedroom suites, is up for sale at £SM (SNZl3.7sM).—London.

Success claimed President Reagan, deriding critics of his arms build-up over the last eight years, said his Administration’s “peace-through-strength” policy had made the world a safer place. Mr Reagan, who will address the United Nations General Assembly today for his seventh and final time as President, said the policy made possible an armscontrol agreement with the Soviet Union, the continued flow of oil from the troubled Gulf and a ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq conflict.—Washington. Grenade hits hotel A rocket-propelled grenade hit a west Beirut hotel used as a base by Syrian military intelligence officers, causing a small fire but no casualties, witnesses and police said. They said the rocket, fired from nearby, hit the third floor of the five-

storey Bristol hotel, which also serves as headquarters for pro-Syrian Lebanese politicians.— Beirut. Prosecutions likely Suspected war criminals who have sought refuge in Australia face prosecution after investigations by a special Federal Government unit, according to a report in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” It said at least six of the suspects were expected to be charged with “major” war crimes. The most serious cases were in connection with systematic executions, direct complicity in the Holocaust or orders given while the suspect was in a position of authority.— Sydney. Visits allowed Taiwan’s Prime Minister, Yu Kuo Hwa, has approved a proposal to

allow selected mainland Chinese to visit the island as early as next month, the “United Daily News” said. The mass-circulation newspaper said that Mr Yu approved a proposal to permit residents of China to stay in Taiwan for up to two months while visiting gravely ill parents, spouses, or children or attending family funerals.—Taipei. ID demand Britain’s Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd, will face growing demands for the introduction of identity cards at next month’s Conservative Party Conference in Brighton, the “Independent” reported. Mr Hurd and senior Cabinet colleagues are determined to resist the demands, but Home Office sources say that current Government thinking was directed towards a compromise voluntary scheme, the paper said.—