Cable briefs

Press, 1 March 1989, Page 10

Cable briefs

Ties severed The Iran Pari lament voted yesterday to break diplomatic relation: s with Britain in protest t igainst London’s reactior i to Iranian death t hreats against the author. , Salman Rushdie. Te ■ heran Radio reported tha t the Majlis (Parliament) approved a bill to cut ti es by a near unanimous vc »te of the 201 deputies. Bi ritain last week withdrew ' its five diplomats . ’ from Teheran and ordered home Iran’s two diploi mats in London. — Nicoste , i.

Out of coalition The majority of the Papua New Guinea National Party yesterday withdrew from Prime Rabbie Namaliu’s coalition Government. The party leader, Michael Mel, and six supporters moved on to crossbenches of Parliament immediately after question time yesterday morning. Although it was not clear whether the Mel group would vote with the Opposition, their withdrawal places a question mark over Mr Namaliu’s ability

to control the House. — Port Moresby. Claim over blast A small Japanese radical group yesterday claimed responsibility for an explosion on the route of Emperor Hirohito’s funeral procession last week. The Kakurokyo, or Revolutionary Workers’ Association, distributed leaflets at several universities claiming the bomb was part of its antiemperor campaign, the police said. — Tokyo.