European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8the stars and stripes Friday april 3, 1992 French Premier resigns amid voter dissatisfaction Paris apr Edith Cresson whose 10-month tenure As Frances first woman prime minister was a struggle for respect resigned thursday after the governing socialists suffered crushing defeats in regional elections. She was replaced by finance minister Pierre Bergovoy a Low key pragmatist respected by the business Community. Cresson served for 323 Days a the shortest and perhaps most turbulent stint of any Premier under the current Constitution. The presidential Palace announced the widely expected change without elaboration. Both the outgoing and incoming premiers Are longtime loyalists of president Francois Mitterrand. The announcements ended three Days of suspense As Mitterrand consulted with Cabinet ministers and socialist leaders about a response to the Rebuff suffered by his government and party in last month s elections. Cresson 58, has shouldered much of the blame for the defeats but conservative leaders also have assailed Mitterrand who is Halfway through his second seven year term. They have urged him to Call parliamentary elections earlier than their scheduled Date next Spring and have suggested he consider stepping Down after 11 years in office. After the election defeats Beret Ovoy a name surfaced As the leading contender to replace Cresson. Another popular candidate was Jacques debtors president of the european Community a executive commission but he preferred to fill out a term that ends in december. Bergovoy a High school dropout has won Praise at Home and abroad for stabilizing the franc and reducing inflation during two stints As finance minister. V Cresson Bergovoy but his policies have failed to halt a Rise in unemployment to a near record 9.9 percent. A a he a the minister of taxes of budget deficits of unemployment a said Alain Madelin vice president of the Union for French democracy part of a conservative coalition that won the recent elections and is favored to take control of parliament next year. Under French Law Cresson a entire Cabinet must resign and Bergovoy 66, will be charged with forming a new one. His choices Are expected to be announced swiftly and the Stock Market Rose in reaction to his appointment. Unconfirmed French radio reports said Beret Ovoy a Post As finance minister would be filled by the governor of the Bank of France Jacques de la Rosiere. Despite pressure to resign Cresson went Down fighting. Aides said she had lobbied hard in three meetings with Mitterrand since monday to stay on As head of a new look Cabinet. 4 palestinians killed in Gaza clash Jerusalem apr israeli soldiers clashed with palestinians on wednesday in the occupied Gaza strip and at least four palestinians were killed . Officials said. The violence was the bloodiest confrontation Between palestinians and troops in the occupied lands in three years. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza strip have been waging a revolt against israelis occupation since december 1987. An army official said he had received reports of a a major incident at the Rajah Camp but needed to Check further before he could comment. Rolf Van Uye a spokesman for the . Relief and works Agency said the bodies of four palestinians were taken to Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Yunis. He said the . Clinic in the Camp treated Between 30 and 50 other palestinians for gunshot wounds. Some of the wounded were in serious condition he said. Van Uye said israeli soldiers prevented . Ambulances from entering or leaving the Camp. The end of the fasting month of Ramadan i preparing the hoi holiest the incident came As palestinians were preparing for in time of the Muslim Calendar. The clash began shortly after 6 30 . In the Rajah Camp on the Southern Edge of the coastal strip Van Uye said. It was not immediately Clear what caused the clash. Arab reports said it began after two jeeps full of paramilitary Border police pursued palestinian activists in a Gaza car into the Market area of the Camp. The Arab said stones and a bomb were thrown at the troops. Palestinians said the army imposed a curfew on Rajah confining people to their Homes and preventing journalists from entering. The clash was the worst in the occupied territories since april 13, 1989, when Border police stormed the West Bank Village of Nahlin in a raid killing five palestinians. In Jerusalem 17 palestinians were killed on oct. 8, 1990, when police stormed the Temple mount area after stones were thrown at jewish worshippers. World major struck by egg during Campaign Stop from wire reports Bath England a prime minister John major on the Campaign Trail before the thursday election was struck by an egg and braved hecklers As he engaged in a bit of Street politics. In the country town of Tho Bury on wednesday the embattled conservative party Leader leaped on a Soapbox jabbed his Finger at a heckler and shouted a til Tell you Why we re going to because we have a win. In Bath while major was campaigning with the local party chairman a Young woman hurled an egg at the prime minister hitting him on the Back of the neck. Major 49, pressed on through the crowd shaking hands As an aide wiped the dripping Yolk off his suit. There was some Comfort for major in two polls released wednesday which showed the tories sinking but within striking distance of labor. Protestant gunned Down Belfast Northern Ireland a gunmen shot and killed a 43-year-old protestant Man outside his Home in Northern Ireland the Royal Ulster constabulary said tuesday. An Ruc spokesman said Peter Mcclements the 39th victim to be killed this year in Northern Ireland had no connection with the Security forces. Police were trying to establish a motive for the attack he said. No organization has claimed responsibility for the killing. Walesa visits Dachau Camp Dachau Germany a polish president Lech Walesa on wednesday paid a quiet visit to the Dachau concentration Camp site where 10,000 poles died during the nazi Era. Some of Walesa a relatives were among prisoners at the Camp outside Munich said Dachau mayor Lorenz Reitmeier. Estonians seize weapons Brussels Belgium a estonian customs authorities have seized three Container loads of automatic pistols bound for Britain fueling fears that the Baltic state could become a transit Point for other illegal cargoes. Juri Luik an estonian foreign ministry official said wednesday that the guns a had no serial numbers and were unmarked and untraceable a Iran hit embassy paper says Ludwigshafen Germany a a newspaper said wednesday that Iran was behind last months bombing of the israeli embassy in Argentina that killed 28 people. Citing what it described As Well informed lebanese sources the newspaper die Rhei Pfalz said the attack was carried out a with the full approval and support of not budging on plan to pull out troops Brussels Belgium a Canadian defense minister Marcel Masse on wednesday reaffirmed Canadas plans to close its two bases in Germany and Send ils Force of several thousand troops Home. A the decision of the Canadian government has been announced and the government has no intention of reviewing it a Masse said after a private meeting with nato s Secretary general Manfred Womer. Canada one of the founding members of the North Atlantic treaty organization in 1949, opened its bases in southwestern Germany More than 25 years ago. It announced last fall that it was sharply reducing ils 6,600-person european Force in 1990, but leaving a Core Force of 1,100 soldiers. But the government changed that decision in february and Canadian finance minister Don Mazankowski said All troops would leave Europe by 1994 for budget reasons. The move is expected to save an estimated $1 billion in Canadian dollars . $840 million Over the next five years. The decision alarmed some european members of the 16-nation Alliance who feared it could give ammunition to furs the cuts in american troops in Europe. The Bush administration has already announced plans to slice half of its european based Force to about 150,000 by 1995. Masse said he was not questioned about the pullout decision when he made a Brief speech to a gathering of More than 30 defense ministers from Eastern and Western Europe he said the Issue was raised by Worner who was instructed earlier in the week by nato allies to ask Canada to reconsider its plans. A i confirmed out decision to pull out but because of budgetary and fiscal reasons a Masse said he told Womer. A we have absolutely no philosophical differences with nato. We Are committed to he said the government plans to keep a brigade size Force of about 1,200 soldiers As Well As two squadrons of Cf-18 fighter jets based in Canada and available for nato. But the troops would not be reserved exclusively for nato use in an emergency a if they Are committed elsewhere they will not be available for nato Quot an aide to Masse who demanded anonymity told reporters. Masse added that it was not unusual for nato members to keep their troops on their Home territory. A at least 10 nato countries done to have forces stationed in Europe a he said. A a it a not the end of the world its not the end of nato if Canada like 10 other countries does no to have troops in
