European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 b the stars and stripes Friday april 3, 1992 French Premier resigns amid voter dissatisfaction Paris apr Edith Cresson whose 10-month tenure As France s 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 Delors 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. 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. Israeli troops wound 18 palestinians Rajah occupied Gaza strip apr eighteen palestinians were wounded by army gunfire thursday while protesting a wednesday clash with israeli forces that left four dead. Palestinian leaders meanwhile called for International Protection of palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza strip. The clash wednesday in the Gaza strip erupted when israeli troops opened fire in a refugee Camp Market after being attacked by firebombs . Officials and Arab reporters said. They said four palestinians were killed and More than 50 were wounded at Rajah. The Plo charged that at least 10 palestinians were killed and 50 were wounded. By either count it was the bloodiest single confrontation Between palestinians and troops in the occupied lands in three years. In Jerusalem palestinian Leader Faisal Husseini a who agreed with the . Death toll a called for International Protection for the 1.7 million palestinians in the occupied territories and a the immediate cessation of the use of live ammunition against armed  All of the palestinians killed wednesday died from live ammunition Gaza Hospital officials said. In Tunis Tunisia a top Palestine liberation organization official said the group had asked the . Security Council to meet urgently and protect palestinians in the occupied territories. Bassam Abu Sharif also charged in a statement that Israel was a attacking hospitals to arrest some of those wounded in wednesday s clash and that two of the wounded had been kidnapped from a Hospital before being a savagely  he provided no details. An israeli military spokesman speaking on condition of anonymity described the assertion As an a absurd claim not worthy of  Hospital officials and Arab reporters in Gaza said they had no reports of palestinians being taken by the army from hospitals. On wednesday four seriously wounded palestinians were moved by ambulance from Gaza hospitals to facilities in Israel . Officials said. In thursday s clash by israeli forces and Stone throwing palestinians Hospital officials reported 18 wounded All with plastic bullets or plastic coated Metal pellets that Are designed to be less lethal than regular bullets. The army had no casualty figures. 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 a in la Tell you Why we re going to win. Because we have a  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  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  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  police identify child killed in car crash by the stars and stripes bad Kreuz Nach Germany a German police have released the name of an american child who died sunday in a one car Accident near Ingelheim. Michelle Hollins 14 months7 died in the one car Accident As her family was being driven to the Airport after completing a tour of duty in Germany. The cards Driver air Force sgt. Michael a. Britton also died in the Accident which occurred on autobahn 60 Between bad Kreuz Nach and Mainz. The child s parents army spec. Stacy Hollins and his wife Petra were injured Hollins was assigned to the he co of the 1st army dives support come in bad Kreuz  cards passengers were wearing seat belts and Hollins daughter was in a child restraint seat a division spokesman  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 its 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 Quot Masse said after a private meeting with natos Secretary general Manfred Worner. 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 its 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 further 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. It confirmed out decision to pull out but because of budgetary and fiscal reasons a Masse said he told Worner. 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 the will not be available for nato a an aids to Masse who demanded anonymity told reporters. Masse added that it was not unusual for nato members to keep their troop on their Home territory. A at least 10 nato countries done have forces stationed in Europe a i said. A a it a not the end of the world it not the end of nato if Canada like 1 other countries does no to have troops ii