European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday november 1,19925 . Nuns slain in Liberia Bena pfc be american nuns Iki trapped behind rebel lines were shot to death Monrovia s archbishop said saturday. A Catholic archbishop Michael Francis fran Cis refused to speculate on who killed the women All in their 50s or 60s. But he said earlier this week that they had been trapped behind the lines of Charles Taylor a rebels and could have been abducted by them. Francis was quoted by the Vatican newspaper los _ a Romano As also saying that four liberian novices were killed As Well. The newspaper said the deaths were confirmed by two other members of religious orders who escaped the massacre. The archbishop could not immediately be reached to confirm the report. The state department condemned the killings and said the nuns apparently were killed several Days ago in an area under the control of forces Loyal to Taylor. A the United states is shocked Ana appalled to hear of the deaths. And condemns this cowardly act a the department said in a statement. John Richardson a spokesman for Taylor denied tie rebels killed the nuns. A i can assure you those nuns were never in our area a Richardson told the British broadcasting corp. The nuns members of the adores of the blood of Christ order had been missing for a week. Two were killed along a Road and the other three were killed in front of their Convent outside Monrovia Francis said. He said he did not know when they were slain and because of Security concerns declined to say when the bodies were found or give other information. Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton reaches into the crowd following a rally in Pittsburgh on Friday. Politics strategy key factors in bid to base fighters in Italy by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau. Washington a no one argues that having a Irge strike Force of f-16 fighters on natos Southern Lank would not give the Alliance a flexible and credible Leterre smack in the Middle of its most unstable reanalysis Sav the Effort to base a . Tactical Ichter Wing in the Southern Region has As much if not to do with Alliance politics As with military opera mfmmtaiy1capabilities that the Wing will afford late r minor Dart of the equation a said Dpn y former kiember of the4 National Security Sumril staff who is now a defense policy analyst with he Center for strategic and International studies. Is to overt military threat at the moment Nider said a the serbs will not Cross the Adriatic sea int Der said. I be w. Era of deterrence Nymore a us a if c r a of u a n be of assuring nato that we want to remain  nato was forced to re evaluate its Southern capabilities after Spain ousted the . 401st tac fighter Wing from its longtime Home at Torrejon a. Recently the United states and Italy hammered out an interim agreement allowing up to 12 f-16s to Fly out of two bases one in Italy and one in Sicily for limited deployments but that leaves the question of where to find a permanent Home for . Fighters who will pay for that Home and according to some analysts whether such a permanent arrangement is necessary at All. According to Snider having a Wing in the Southern Region is one Way for the United states to Foster political and economic relationships within the Alliance. A then As a secondary consideration you can use it to kick ass when you have to a he said. Retired Gen. Jack n. Merritt a nato defense strategy expert with the Atlantic Council said putting a . See South on Page 2 Taylor a 16-Day-old siege of Monrovia against a seven nation West african Force and two Allied liberian armed factions has became a standoff. Civilians Are caught in the Middle of duels of missiles rockets mortars and shells. Seven West african nations dispatched peacekeepers to Stop a civil War that broke out after Taylor a liberian invaded from Ivory coast in december 1989. The War has killed about 60,000 people 40,000 of them from starvation during Taylor a 1990 siege of Monrovia. Taylor a forces control most of Liberia and surround the capital. Radio stations in Monrovia and behind Taylors lines published death notices of civilians who have died in the bombardment of Monrovia and West see nuns on Page 2 Iran Contra dogs Bush on last Lap Washington apr president Bush was haunted by new questions about the Iran Contra affair and Bill Clinton faced a shrinking Lead saturday As some new polls suggested the presidential race was a dead heat with just three election expanded daily coverage pages 6 ant 7 and sunday Magazine Days to go. Can Usa today Newsweek and Abc polls accorded Clinton a statistically insignificant Edge though a fourth for lbs said the Democrat was ahead of Bush by 10 Points. Independent Ross Perot was a poor third in All the polls. Bush said the Iran Contra Issue which resurfaced with new evidence that seemed to refute Bush a insistence he was a out of the Loop on the arms for hostages Deal was being politicized by a a frantic governor of  Clinton said Friday in Michigan that the new evidence gives the lie to a president who has a done a lot see Bush on Page 2 nato s Southern flank a temporary agreement puts . F 16s in Italy at Gioia Del Colle and Simonella. Sicily but where and a according to some analysts a whether to find a permanent Home for the fighters remains a question. R it c a y \. N / a / a a Quot Greece. Vow s4s