Cable briefs

Press, 8 October 1988, Page 10

Cable briefs

Ban to stay Poland’s Communist Party rulers, preparing for talks with Solidarity, have confidentially told senior party activists they have no intention of relegalising the banned trade union. In a message sent to party factory chiefs, they said they were ready to discuss broad political reform at the talks starting in midOctober but considered any prospect of Solidarity’s rebirth a major threat. — Warsaw. Admiral’s visit The United States most senior military officer, Admiral William Crowe, arrived in Darwin yester-

day for a nine-day official visit to Australia. — Canberra.

Soviet A.LD.S. death A 28-year-old woman, four weeks pregnant, has become the first Russian to die of A.I.D.S. — after being assured by doctors for months that she merely had tonsilitis. The newspaper “Sovetskaya Kultura” said the woman, whom it named only as “G” from Leningrad, died on September 5. It said she had had almost 10 years of “indiscriminate sexual intercourse,” which included relations with foreigners. — Moscow.

Refugee assaults The Hong Kong Government said no criminal action would be taken against prison officials who beat up some 100 Vietnamese refugees. A Government spokesman said no criminal action was being contemplated, but disciplinary measures could be taken. — Hong Kong. Drug post? An Australian Federal Police officer could be stationed in South America to help Australia’s attack on cocaine trafficking, the Federal Justice Minister, Michael Tate, said. “Australia

faces a more vigorous push from South American cocaine producers to open up larger markets in this country,” he said. — Canberra. Hijacker shot Police shot and seriously wounded a hijacker who killed the co-pilot and injured two crew members during a Brazilian domestic flight. The hijacker was leaving a Boeing 737 to board a smaller plane when police opened fire. The 98 passengers, including prominent foreign businessmen, were released' unharmed.—Rio de Janeiro.