Cable Briefs

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 5

Cable Briefs

Student revolt Students at the University! of Papua New Guinea have! erected barricades around I the university campus on I the outskirts of Port More-1 sby. The students are boycotting their lectures to press claims for increased living and book allowances. The Government has told them that they must sign forms declaring that they are willing to continue their studies or it will cancel their scholarships. — Port Moresby. Talks start badly Prospects for a quick settlement to the Sino-Vietnam-ese dispute looked bleak after an opening round of talks in Hanoi, diplomatic sources said. “The atmosphere at the talks so far appears to have been bad and unlikely to lead to serious agreement,” said one source. In a report on the opening session, the New China News Agency made no mention of Vietnam’s call for a demilitarised zone along their common border. — Peking. Clergyman shot A firing squad has executed a clergyman in Iran’s western city of Hamedan for “playing the role of a clergyman” while collaborating with the Savak secret police, the State radio has said. The Islamic revolutionary court branch in Hamedan recognised the clergyman, Ahmad Alemizadeh, to be “corrupt to the core,” and sentenced him to death, the radio said. — Teheran. 'lran broke word* The French President (Mr Valerv Giscard d’Estaing) accused the new authorities in Iran of breaking their word over the trial and execution of the former Prime Minister, Amir Abbas Hoveyda. The President, speaking during the first of a series of two-monthly television chats with reporters, said he had repeatedly interceded with the Teheran a thorities on behalf of Mr Hoveyda, who headed the Shah’s Government for 13 years. “I was given assurances that he would be spared, or would at least benefit from the due processes of law. These assurances were not kept,” Mr Giscard said. — Paris. Suit over Pill Two British women, who claim they are victims of contraceptive pill side-ef-fects, are planning a legal battle against American drug companies. Diana Saint and Judith Challenger, who formed the Pill Victim Action Group after allegedly suffering severe damage themselves, said they knew of at least 350 other cases of strokes, permanent paralysis, and four or five deaths from use of the Pill. Gerald Sterns, a Californian lawyer who won $12.75M damages for British victims of the DCIO plane crash near Paris five years ago, is representing the action group. — London. i A>tr smelter I One of the world s leading I aluminium producers will i I build a sAustsooM smelting j complex near Newcastle.; I The Premier of New South ; ■ Wales (Mr Neville Wran), and the executive vice-presi-dent of Alumax (Mr Robert Marcus) said the plant could be working by the 1980 s and employ up to 1000 people. Mr Wran said the Alumax smelter would produce aluminium for export to the United States, Japan, and Europe. — Sydney. 'Copter plunge At least three persons; have been killed when a commuter helicopter plunged; 30 metres after taking off: from Neark Airport, New! Jersey. At least 10 persons 'on the New York Airways; flight to La Guardia Airport' and Kennedy Airport were; injured. The Federal Aviation Administration said 18 persons, including a crew of three, were aboard the 30passenger aircraft. Crash victims were taken to at least four hospitals. — New York. i