European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 05, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes thursday aprils 1990 belgian King Steps aside Over abortion Bill Brussels Belgium a King Baudouin a devout Catholic was temporarily suspended As Monarch wednesday at his own request after refusing on moral grounds to sign into Law a Bill Legal izing abortion. After suspending the Monarch As the Baudouin constitutional head of state the government enacted the abortion Bill adopted in parliament last military round week itself. It also recalled the bicameral legis lature from its easter recess for a joint session on thursday to restore King Bau Douin to the throne of this nation of 10 million. The government cited its Constitution Al right to suspend the Monarch. Yet its decision immediately set off a constitutional debate. Some experts termed it illegal saying the Monarch cannot for personal Rea sons reject a Law adopted by the legis lature. One called his suspension  a court in Hasselt in Northern Bel Gium suspended All hearings question ing judges right to act in the King s name. The sessions were to resume thursday. There were also appeals for the 59 year old Monarch to abdicate. The move let the government enact a Bill to allow abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and relieved the Monarch from signing it into Law. His suspension capped Days of intense contacts Between the Center left govern ment of prime minister Wilfried mar tens and the Royal Palace starting last Friday. The abortion Bill was adopted by the parliament s chamber of corp pm tics last thursday and ends a Slegal ban on abortions in this when mingle Catholic nation. The government said Kine asked for a Legal solution need of the Good functioning of Dar i Hamen tary democracy can be recon Fri with the right of the King not to violation of his  the Catholic daily la Libre Bel Girj reported that three options were considered abdication of the King giving abortion Bill Royal assent but under no test and the temporary suspension of the Monarch. C army engineers to hold annual Ball in Heidelberg Heidelberg West Germany army engineers will hold their annual Castle Ball in Hei Delberg next month. Officers sergeants major first sergeants and civilian engineers May attend the May 4 event at Patrick Henry Village officers and civilians club. Reservations must be made by april 19. More information May be obtained by calling capt. Darryl a. Wilkerson at ets 370-8357 or 370 6080. . Military strength shows 32,643 drop in year Washington worldwide . Military strength at the end of february was 2,089,993. That s a decrease of 13,249 from january and a drop of 32,643 from february 1989. Army strength was 755,164, Down from 760,818 in january and 765,675 in february 1989. The Navy had 584,789 people on Active duty Down from 585,663 in january but up from 582,048 the previous year. The air Force had 553,228 members Down from 560,105 in january and 579,283 in february 1989. The Marine corps was the Only service with an increase Over both previous time periods up 156 from january to 196,812. In february 1989, there were 195,630 marines. The figures represent full time military personnel including both regulars and reserves on Active duty and officer candidates including Ca dets at the three military academies. The figures do not include about 74,200 full time military personnel who arc paid from other than Active duty military personnel appropriations. This group is funded from appropriations for Reserve components and corps of Engineer functions. The group numbered about 72,000 in fiscal 1989. Sex Pentagon official elected new Uso chief Washington is former Pentagon manpower chief Chapman Cox has been elected president and chief executive officer of the United service organizations Uso officials said. Cox 49, replaces Charles Hagel whose term expires May 1. Cox held numerous defense department posts in the 1980s, including Pentagon general counsel from 1984 to 1985 and assistant Secre tary of defense for Force management and personnel from 1985 to 1987. He served three years As a Marine corps officer and saw combat duty in Vietnam since his retirement from government he has been working As executive partner of Sherman & Howard a Large Law firm with offices in the Southwest. He has kept a seat on the Uso world Board of governors since 1986. Neg of Afore seek discussions with hard Core prison inmates London up negotiators pressed wednes Day for talks with hard Core prisoners who have refused to end a siege at an overcrowded jail that has left at least 60 people injured and one inmate dead in an explosion of  a prisoner who sustained head injuries in the initial uprising died in an intensive care unit tues Day authorities said. Derek White 46, was a Pris Oner facing charges of indecent assault and sodomy. The father of an inmate who emerged since the riot began sunday morning reported at least six deaths inside the victorian Era facility. Other in mates put the figure at 12. Prison governor Brendan o Friel said no corpses had been found As guards advanced into the various wings of Strangeways prison in Manchester 200 Miles Northwest of London but he suspected there were fatalities. Officials said 39 prisoners defied pleas that they surrender. Seven prisoners were perched on the Snow covered roof of the prison brandishing a ban Ner Reading no  prisoners had been reassured of a key demand that their surrenders would be witnessed by photog Raphers Church officials and magistrates and they would not be beaten he said. A Home office spokesman said the prison was quiet overnight and authorities were trying to open talks with protesters reported to be holding the upper floors of five wings of the looming red Brick Complex. Talks were continuing with other groups of men. Authorities Are reported to have Cut off All food water and Power to the besieged areas to increase pressure on diehard protesters. The father of a prisoner told the bbl that his son said he saw six inmates hanged from knotted sheets and claimed that a 64-year-old Man was thrown off a Balcony and became impaled on the leg of an upturned table. The Man tried to wriggle away but was bombarded with Iron bars and scaffolding and was last seen lying Limp the bbl s informant quoted his son As saying. Officials said ringleaders were holding some men who wished to give up. Masked prisoners tuesday dragged onto the roof a Man who was stripped to the Waist and had bound hands. A noose was dangled behind him. They threatened to throw their captive to the ground if police did not Retreat but the Man was later led Back inside. Fugitive sex is Captain to face trial soon in West Germany Bonn West Germany a a former is Captain accused of killing thousands of people when he commanded nazi labor Camps is expected to be extradited from Argentina next month to face trial the govern ment said tuesday. Argentine authorities approved the extradition last month of Joseph Schwamm Berger who has reportedly been in ill health since his arrest out Side the North Central City of Cordoba on nov. 13, 1987. He had been living in Argen Tina for decades most of the time in la Plata near Buenos Aires. Schwammberge s Case proves that even after Long years no one. Is Safe from Justice s grip no matter where they Are hiding Justice minister Hans a. Engelhard said. Schwammberge 78, had been a fugitive since he disappeared from a train in 1948. He was being transferred from Germany to Ameri can military authorities in Austria for trial. He report edly escaped to Argentina about 1950, when that country was encouraging european immigration. Prosecutors allege he was responsible for the deaths of up to 5,000 people mostly jews. Camp survivors who travelled to Buenos Aires in 1988 from Miami Chicago and Toronto testified to court authorities which has Juri dict Joseph Schwammberge. Accused of killing thousands that he shot to death starving prisoners or set dogs on them. Schwammberge was finally tracked Down with the help Olf amed nazi Hunter Simon Wiesen  Learned in 1971 that Schwammberge was living in la Plata where he had worked in a factory for  nazi Hunter informed Stutt Gart prosecutors who issued an arrest warrant but apparently nine action was taken by Argentine authorities until 1987.schwammberger s name was on a list of the 10 most wanted nazi War criminals published in 198/ Dythe Simon Wiesenthal Center in los Angeles. The list appeared in Argent newspapers which led auth Nti s to Schwammberge according to Wiesenthal. Schwammberge j ppm tipped off that police were on his Trail fled to a be Man Argentine Community outside Cordoba w Argentine police later arrested him without my item. Engelhard said that All arrangements have be made to pick up Schwammberge in Argentina n said two Law officials and an attorney will acc a Schwammberge on the trip to West Germany Scaneo used for May 3. R a Schwammberge will be handed1 Over to West u Man Justice officials from Baden Wurttemberge so which has jurisdiction in the Case Engelhard saw