ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 29, 1996 TAG: 9611290125
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
Vote to ban Islamic parties succeeding
ALGIERS, Algeria - Algerians defied threats of violence and cast ballots in high numbers Thursday in a constitutional referendum that would ban Islamic parties and expand presidential powers.
About three of every four registered voters went to the polls, a sign of success for the military-backed government of President Liamine Zeroual, who risked the vote to consolidate his rule. The opposition had called for a boycott or ``no'' vote.
The results that began trickling in after midnight pointed to a landslide in favor of the constitutional changes. Dozens of counties reported that more than 80 percent of the ballots were ``yes'' votes.
Seven weeks of violence marked by massacres and bombs - and blamed on Islamic militants fighting to topple the government - led up to the referendum. More than 250 people have been killed in greater Algiers.
The Armed Islamic Group, the most feared of the country's Muslim guerrilla movements, had threatened to slit the throats of any of the 16.4 million voters who cast ballots to amend the 1989 constitution.
- Associated Press
Disputed Van Gogh proven authentic
PARIS - Sales records from a Paris art gallery contain irrefutable proof that an atypical Van Gogh rumored to be fake is, in fact, authentic, a French newspaper reported Thursday.
Three documents dating from 1908 from the archives of the reputed Bernheim-Jeune gallery show that ``Jardin a Auvers'' was sold to the gallery by Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, the artist's sister-in-law, Le Monde reported.
Last summer, a French art critic noted discrepancies concerning the painting's original owner. Rumors have swirled ever since.
The painting is to be sold at auction Dec. 9 in Paris and could fetch some $10 million. The government is expected to buy the work, which was classified as a national treasure in 1989 and cannot be taken out of the country.
- Associated Press
Canada cracking down on tobacco
TORONTO - The government launched a broad anti-smoking offensive Thursday that would raise cigarette taxes sharply, ban most types of tobacco ads and restrict tobacco-company sponsorships of cultural and sports events.
Under the legislation, which goes to Parliament next week, all outdoor advertising for tobacco would be banned, as would radio and TV ads. Only ads in publications aimed primarily at adults would be allowed.
Tobacco companies still would be allowed to sponsor cultural and sporting events, thanks in part to vigorous lobbying by arts groups that feared disaster for a variety of film and music festivals. But manufacturers no longer could use their logos to promote the events, except on a limited space at the bottom edge of banners displayed at the actual venue.
Effective Friday, cigarette taxes will rise by $1.04 a carton in four provinces.
A federal tax hike of about 52 cents a carton is being matched by the four provinces. The result will be a roughly 7 percent increase; a carton now costs between $14 and $15.
- Associated Press
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