European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 12, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes thursday february 12. 1987 soviets release More political prisoners Moscow not the soviet Union has pardoned 140 prisoners convicted of subversive activities and a comparable number of cases Are being reviewed the government said tuesday. The announcement was made at press briefing by Gennady i Gerasimov the foreign ministry spokesman. Al though the briefing was amended by for eign and soviet reporters no news about the release of prisoners was immediately released to the soviet Public. In Washington the Reagan administration welcomed the release As an important step but said improvements in human rights had to include the right to  Western estimates of the number of political prisoners in the soviet Union vary. The slate department said tues Day that he 140 released so far rep resented 10 percent of those serving time for purely political reasons. A Moscow Gerasimov said the Par dons were being granted under two de crees dated feb. 2 and 9, of he presidium of the supreme soviet the nominal legislature. The decrees affected mainly those sentenced under article 70 of the criminal code on anti soviet agitation and  article 70 of the russian Republic criminal code which serves As a Model for the soviet Union s 14 other republics has been one of the most powerful tools in suppressing what the authorities regard As subversion. This was the first word that a second decree had been issued. The existence of the feb. 2 decree had become evident indecent Days As the first prisoners released under its provisions began arriving in Moscow. The foreign ministry spokesman said the pardons were issued As part of a re View of the criminal code that he said was being carried out so thai we May have fewer people behind bars and be Hind barbed  he said a government commission was drawing up new legislation that would curtain the use of the death Penally and reduce the number of crimes punish Able by prison terms. The spokesman s announcement was the first official com men on the prisoner release. It was hi1 firm big release of dissidents since hundreds of thousands were freed by Nikita Khrushchev after the  hj53. World today Hessen governor resigns As social Democrat chief Frankfurt ear in was operating under a austerity budget thai could nut be trimmed further its financial Patrimony was being steadily eroded and. As a Cann i sunni t. There was an urgent need for help from roman catholics around i to world. The budget Iiams up Mes fur the curia or the Church s Central  the Church s Diplo malic missions and Iho Vatican s radio station and Uii newspaper Flowers from the ambassador Jawad Samurl Irani i ambassador to Germany presents Flowers la wounded iranian soldiers during a visit to Elisabeth Hospital at a Klong his i Ger Many wednesday. The soldiers Are twine treated for injuries reportedly caused from chemical weapons used in the Iran Iraq War. Paraguayan police fire fear Gas to end party for . Ambassador Asuncion. Paraguay a . Marines whisked ambassador Clyde Taylor and his wife Froman opposition organised party in his Honor when police fired tear Gas � break Al up. Diplomatic sources and witnesses said. The slate department condemned the police raid and summoned the paraguayan ambassador in Washington to make an Otticia protest. The incident occurred monday night at the Home of opposition activist Josefina Sosa in suburban Trinidad during a party Given in the american ambassador s Honor by a group called women for democracy Oiher diplomats political independents some members of the paraguayan opposition an 85-year old retired army general and Small children also were at the Pany. No arrests or serious injuries were reported. Police said tuesday they had been ordered in die residence because the gathering of the women s group had not been authorized by the government. The rightist military government of president Alfre do sums Knirr who has held office since ivs4. Lia Accuu d Taylor of repeatedly  with Iho Snulli american country s internal affairs by calling for greater ice Cracy " police threw a tear Gas grenade near a table where Taylor was said a . Diplomatic source in Asun Cion speaking on condition of anonymity. Taylor a 49-year-old career Diplomat was nol Avail Able for comment. . Officials gave the following account of inc Inci Dent police cordoned off the area outside Sosa s Homeland asked arriving guests to identify themselves. Diplomats were admitted but Many others were turned away and joined a Large group of onlookers who had gathered nearby. After police tried to disperse the crowd Wilh tear Gas Many tried to flee to safety a i Sosa s Huus. Police then fired another tear Gas grenade from Anad Juning Home Imo the backyard Patio where the reception was being held. The ambassador and most of the guests left after the scar Gas dissipated. Witnesses and . Diplomatic sources in Asuncion mul several marines who provide Protection Fortay or Fern rid him and his wife away. Taulur ambassador since Laic i is. Suffered Lempo urn eve irritation from inc funds. In . Embassy spokesman said