European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page b the stars and stripes wednesday december 28,1968 briton freed from prison in Tehran arrives Home London a a briton imprisoned in Iran for More than two years on weapons charges returned Home tuesday after being released from a Tehran Pris on. Nicholas Nicola 23. Was met by his father and by foreign office officials at London s Heathrow Airport following his arrival on an Iran air flight he sri cd at he walked Down the air plane s Steps and was then driven directly out of the Airport from inc aircraft without commenting on his ordeal. The porcing office would not disclose his whereabouts. News of Nicola s release first came from the English language newspaper Tehran times which reported tuesday that he had been turned Over to British charge d Al Aires Gordon Spiric on monday. The newspaper report was carried by the official islamic Republic news Agency and later confirmed by the British foreign office. Brilain said Nicola a tourist travelling by land from Pakistan when Arres cd Hild been held without trial since september 1936. Hill the 1rna report said he had been officially charged tried and sentenced to 3vj years in prison far the Possession of Tyfo weapons and a number of  it said Nicola was treed because of Good behaviour in  London a foreign office spokesman called the release an important step  the iranians up until now have been in breach of the Vienna convention in refusing to give adequate consular Access to detained britons said the spokes Man speaking anonymously in keeping Wilh British custom. Britain and Iran agreed dec 9 to restore diplomatic ties ending a 19-month Strain that began when an iranian envoy was arrested in Manchester Northern England on shoplifting charges in May 1987. Earlier this year a British Diplomat David Rcd a Way Wai allowed to visit Nicola and another briton Roger Cooper at Tehran s Masi Munt Sec Writy Evin prison. He reported both men were physically fit. Cooper 52, a businessman who has lived in Iran for More than 20 years was originally detained in novem Ber 1985 for overstaying his visa. He later was charged Wilh saving. ". Nicola s release raised Hopes that Cooper May soon be freed. The gradual casing of strained relations be tween the two countries May aha signal new Hope for British hostages believed held in Lebanon. Britain seek the release of three of its nationals held by pro iranian islamic fundamentalists anglican envoy Terry wait journalist John Mccarthy and team lick Brian Keenan a Belfast Man Wilh dual British and Irish nationality whose release is also sought by the Irish government. The foreign office says it also seeks word on Alec Colket a new York based British journalist. His palestinian abductors claimed they killed him. His Bod was never found. They Are among 15 foreigners including nine americans missing and believed held in Lebanon. The Long est held is Terry Anderson chief Middle East correspondent of inc associated press. He was abducted March 16, 1985, session s almost Over anyway members of Taiwan s National Assembly Yawn Chat or catch � few winks tuesday at the end of a special three Day session commemorating the 41st anniversary of the nationalist Constitution. There have been demands to retire the aged legislators most of them members of he ruling nationalist  today big snowfall freezes up life for Jordan citizens Amman Jordan a a Storni dumped sleet and nearly a fool of Snow on Partnof this arid kingdom tuesday knocking out Power to thousands of Homes it rid slum ing schools and universities officials said. More than 4 inches of Snow fell on parts of this Hilly , Home to about 1 million people. Ali abandon director of the National weather serv ice said More than 11 inches fell on 1hc town of Sho Hak in the Southern mountains and at Tafich about to Miles South of the capital. Abanda said Snow also fell on the Northern part of the country accompanied by 56 Mph winds. Officials reported no major accidents or fatalities. Amman usually receives Snow once or twice a year though in smaller amounts. Gandhi Bhutto to talk during group s meeting new Delhi India up prime minister Rajiv Gandhi will hold talks with his pakistani counterpart Binazir Bhutto when he attends the annual South asian association for regional cooperation Summit. The press Trust  tuesday. The press Trust quoted sources As saying that Gandhi and Bhutto will meet privately for one hour to discuss nagging bilateral differences after he arrives in the pakistani capital of Islamabad on thursday it will be the first official visit by an Indian prime minister since Gandhi s Grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru visited in i960. The two leaders will hold a 90-Minutc meeting on Friday and join their official delegations in talks sat urday sources said. Strong earthquake hits Northern chinese province Beijing a a Strong earthquake Shook inc Northwestern province of Ginsu on monday but no casualties or damage were reported the official Xin Hua news Agency said tuesday. Xinhua said the quake measured 5.1 on the Richter scale indicating a quake capable of causing consider Able damage in a populated area. Ii said the quake struck at 3 46 . And was Cen tired in Linz county about 260 Miles Northwest of the cans capital of Lanzhou the Rich tar scale is a measure of ground motion As recorded on seismographs. Every increase of one num Ber Means a tenfold increase in magnitude. Thus a Reading nfl.5 reflects an earthquake 10 times stronger than one of 6.5. ,. Bomb goes off near store in Jerusalem no one Hurt Jerusalem a a Small bomb exploded tuesday in the business District of Jerusalem but there were no injuries or damage police said. The bomb was planted in a trash can outside it cloth ing store crowded with shoppers at Jaffa Road and King George Street police spokesman Rafi Levy said. This is definitely a terrorist attack Levy said adding that police arrested 13 arabs in the area for questioning. ,. "  -. Police blocked off Jaffa Road for a half hour after inc 9 30 . Blast. The explosion blew the lid off the trash can but the bin remained intact. Levy said special trash cans with reinforced steel linings to withstand blasts have been installed in Central Jerusalem in acc Cal months. There were no Public trash cans on the City s Side walks for several years because they frequently had been used to Plant bombs scandal shake Tokyo up prime minister no Boru Tak Shila reshuffled his Cabinet tuesday to Patch up fits beleaguered 13 month old administration shaken by the biggest government scandal in More than a decade. There or in ration followed parliament re approval Ufa sweeping Las Reform a major Victor for Takeshita who had. Stated his political career on its enactment. Takeshita 64, retained foreign min ister Sosuki Uno his official spokesman Cizo Obuchi and three other key min. Siers while replacing 15 other portfolios. The reshuffle came after Takeshita s administration was dead a blow by a Stock trading. Scandal which Cost finance minister i Ietti Miyazawa his Job. Takeshita carefully distributed ministerial posts to members of major factions within the ruling Liberal demo cratic party in an apparent move .10 maintain Unity and consolidate his Power base. The Cabinet reorganization can three Days  pie Japan s parliament passed a major lax Reform Bill including Japan s first sales  appointed Takashi Hasegawa 76, a Follower of his archrival Shutaro Abe. As new Justice minister. A Asefa  supervise investigations in the scandal that involves questionable sales of unlined shares to selected political and business leaders ,. ,. Abe. Who now serves As Sec Star Gen c ral of the lip is rear did As the top contender to succeed Takeshita As head of the party arid prime minister. Opposition parties said they Are re sol Ved to press for a thorough investigation of the scandal that has implicated cities of Takeshita his predecessor Yasu Hiro Nakasonc and other leaders. The scandal disclosed in the summer. Is the biggest to Rock Japan s political world since 1976. When former prime minister Kakuchi Tanaka was jailed for allegedly taking a bribe front . Air Craft  Lockheed corp Miyazawa who resigned dec. 9, assumed responsibility for the scandal. On saturday Takeshita appointed Tat Stio Murayama 73, a principal pro Moter of the Lai Reform to fill the Posl vacated by Miyasawa. -. The reorganization was conducted after a Public approval rating of Takeshi la s cab incl plummeted to a Low of 25.5 percent because of the lax Reform