ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 3, 1996 TAG: 9612030113
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
Africans yield on top U.N. post
UNITED NATIONS - The chairman of the Organization of African Unity has suggested that African governments submit candidates other than current Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for the United Nations' top job.
It was the first sign that U.S. opposition to the veteran Egyptian diplomat is eroding Africa's united support for re-electing him.
When the 15-nation Security Council, which effectively chooses the secretary general, held its first vote on Nov. 19, the African group formally asked the council to re-elect him.
While Boutros-Ghali got 14 votes, his re-election was vetoed by the United States, which announced last May that it wants an individual whom it regards as more reform-minded to head the U.N. bureaucracy. As one of the council's five permanent members, the United States has the power to block any decision.
- The Washington Post
Czech president's prognosis good
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Doctors removed a malignant tumor and half of President Vaclav Havel's right lung Monday and gave the chain-smoking former dissident good chances for recovery.
Havel regained consciousness soon after the operation and was in intensive care, doctors said.
Chief surgeon Dr. Pavel Pafko told reporters a malignant tumor of about 15 millimeters (half an inch) was taken out during the 31/2-hour surgery, which he described as ``very radical.''
``The prognosis should be good,'' he said.
- Associated Press
English Channel tunnel fire costly
LONDON - The fire in the tunnel under the English Channel two weeks ago did far more damage at far greater potential cost than initially thought, and safety officials have yet to allow resumption of the passenger service that was revolutionizing travel between Britain and the rest of Europe.
Inspections since the Nov. 18 fire reveal the blaze reached at least 2,700 degrees, melting and popping steel, concrete, cables, railway cars and trucks.
It reduced part of the tunnel to ``an unlined hole'' through the chalk seabed, according to the most complete damage assessment so far, which was published in a leading engineering journal here. Repairs could take six months and cost about $83 million, a spokeswoman for the Eurotunnel firm said Monday.
Combined with replacement of destroyed trains and trucks, the total will exceed $100 million, according to current estimates, making it by most reckonings one of the costliest rail accidents in history.
Swift evacuation of the 34 truck drivers and train crew members on board prevented deaths or serious injuries in the two-year-old tunnel's first serious mishap.
- The Washington Post
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