| Show 10A Standard-Examine- r Thursday September 22 1988 World Fighting breaks out in Lebanon as BEIRUT Lebanon (AP) — Fighting broke out along this city’s dividing Green Line today after a Parliament session to elect a new president was postponed in a deadlock between Moslems and Christians Shell explosions and bursts of gunfire echoed across Beirut after the Parliament speaker put off voting for 24 hours h in a effort to avert a showdown that is threatening Lebanon with partition and renewed civil war Parliament sources said President last-ditc- Amin Gemayel would announce a caretaker Cabinet later today led by a Christian as prime minister Under an unwritten national covenant dating from independence the Lebanese president must be a Maronite Christian the prime minister a Sunni Moslem and the Parliament speaker a Shiite Moslem Police said one Christian militiaman was killed and two soldiers of the regular army's predominantly Shiite Moslem 6th Brigade were wounded in mortar and machine gun duels near the old Par liament headquarters Twenty-seve- n Christian members of Parliament boycotted today’s session to elect a successor to Gemayel blocking a required quorum of 51 in the body Gemayel must step down at the end of his term which by tradition ends Friday “To allow more time for goodwill efforts to save Lebanon I have rescheduled the session for 11 am (2 am MDT) Friday at the old Parliament building in Star Square” speaker Hus 99-se- at one-hou- se sein Husseini a Shiite Moslem said in a statement “There seems to be no hope for a meeting (to elect a new president) Miracles don’t happen anymore” Edmond Rizk a Christian member of Parliament told reporters today Gemayel launched crisis talks with Christian statesmen and politicians to form an interim government to fill the vacuum in case a successor was not elected on time Former President Charles Helou said after meeting with Gemayel the new prime minister would probably be “a member of the Helou clan” It was an apparent reference to Pierre Helou a Maronite Catholic businessman who maintains close ties with several Moslem leaders Parliament sources speaking on condition of anonymity said Gemayel plans interim cabinet to announce a headed by Helou later today 15-m- Bush Noriega linked Report: Contras trained in Panama LONDON (AP) — A former senior aide to Gen Manuel Antonio Noriega says Vice President George Bush met with Noriega five years ago and complained about money laundering in Panama according to a British television documentary The assertion by Col Roberto Diaz Herrera contradicts Bush claims that the Reagan administration took action against Noriega Panama’s de facto leader as soon as it learned that Noriega was allegedly involved in drugs Noriega was indicted in federal court on drug charges in February and US sanctions began against him early this year James Baker chairman of Bush’s presidential campaign responded to questions about the matter on the “CBS Morning News” today “You’re going to hear a lot of rumors and speculation as this campaign moves through its last 47 days” he said Diaz and Jose I Blandon a former senior intelligence officer in Panama also said Noriega claims to have pictures and tape recordings that would link Bush or his aides to secret training of Nicaraguan rebels From October 1984 to October 1986 US law prohibited any US government aid to the Contras in their fight to topple Nica- ragua’s leftist N SALE UP TO 50 OFF! Sandinista government The documentary did not say when the pictures were taken nor when the tape recordings were made “We have learned that as early as 1983 George Bush sat down with Gen Noriega to complain about the laundering of drug money in Panama” reporter Julian Manyon said on the Thames Television program which was screened for reporters Wednesday “One of the vice president’s concerns according to Panamanians who were there was an estimated $3 billion of drug profits that had already been laundered through Panama” Manyon said Noriega was shown on the documentary saying he never met Bush nor had any contact with him “Your source of information is mistaken” he said In Washington Bush spokes-- h man Steve Hart said Wednesday the vice president during a stopover in Panama in 1983 met Riwith Panama's cardo de la Espriclla and other officials including Noriega Hart said Bush spoke of drug interdiction efforts but did not speak of any allegations against the generthen-Preside- al Manyon said the meeting took place Dec 10 1983 at the VIP lounge of Panama City’s airport According to a photograph shown of the gathcr-in- g Diaz attended the meeting Manyon said the meeting black-and-whi- 'raised “important te questions" Cabout Bush’s claims the administration acted as soon as it learned Of allegations against Noriega Concerning the laundering of drug profits ' Diaz who was interviewed in i Venezuela said he once saw No-Cie- examining photographs which apparently showed Contras being secretly trained in Panama under an arrangement with Col Oliver North the White House aide dismissed over the scandal in which profits from arms sales to Iran were allegedly funneled to the Contras Noriega suggested that the tapes and photos gave him an advantage over Bush according to Diaz who has accused Noriega of corruption electoral fraud and political murder Iran-Cont- j ra The documentary was to be broadcast tonight on Britain’s commercial Independent Television Network AN ADDITIONAL NO PAY TIL DEC 2 GTete DISCOUNT IF YOU PAY BY CHECK CASH OR CMQ4 CREDIT CARD ogden HOMEIFURNISHINGS ave 6213034 3111 WALL 'i0 mTEREST R0 DOWN PAYMENT (ON APPROVED CREDIT) |
