8
Wednesday, April 15, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Officials examine higher radiation levels in Europe
The Associated Press
BONN, West Germany — West German officials said yesterday they would ask Moscow about higher levels of radiation in Europe that some experts believe may have been caused by a nuclear power plant accident in the Soviet Union.
West Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and France yesterday confirmed varying increases in atmospheric radiation last month. The Soviet government denied that it was the source of the emissions, which officials said caused no damage or injuries.
The Soviets were criticized after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster for failing to quickly report the power plant accident, which killed 31 Soviets and spewed radiation around the world nearly one year ago.
Officials in Bonn said unusual levels of the radioactive element iodine 131 and four to five times the normal amounts of xenon gas were measured in West Germany between March 9 and March 15.
Environment ministry spokesman Claudia Conrad said the radiation posed no health threat, but the government also told Soviet Union for further information.
Foreign ministry spokesman Klaus-Hermann Ringwald said the request was on its way to the Soviets not yet been formally presented.
"The experts are all saying it was almost certainly a nuclear power accident," Heinz-Joerg Haury, a spokesman for the government, said. "We're building and Environmental Research in Munich, told The Associated Press.
A Western diplomatic source in Moscow said Tuesday that the Soviets were asked about a possible radiation leak after some Scandinavian countries registered an increase
in emissions last month. The source, who spoke on condition he not be further identified, said the Soviets denied any such leak.
The source said it was unlikely a nuclear power plant accident had occurred, since it would have caused an inactive isotopes, not just iodine 131.
In Moscow, foreign ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov said the Soviet Union's radiation detection equipment was "functioning well". The Russian government emissions have been registered on the territory of the Soviet Union."
Erich Oberhausen, chairman of the Bonn-based Radiation Protection Commission, said a government study indicated that the radiation came from a minor Soviet nuclear weapon or an underground nuclear test.
He said in a telephone interview that a nuclear accident was the more likely cause.
Tommy Godaas, chief inspector of the Swedish National Radiation Protection Agency, said the radiation could have been released in the burning of radioactive isotopes used for medical purposes, or in the cleaning of a nuclear reactor.
"Considering the small amounts, an accidental minor reactor leak was possible, but it might as well have been a deliberately increased emission while cleaning a reactor," he said.
Sweden recorded abnormal radioactivity between March 11 and March 13 and traced it to an area near the Gulf of Finland, southeast of the Soviet city of Leningrad, officials said. France said it recorded small increases in iodine 131 and xenon gas from March 9 to March 15.
In Switzerland, elevated radiation levels were measured on March 14 for six hours only.
Meeting
Wednesday, April 15th 6:00 p.m.
KU/IABC
Room 202, Stauffer-Flint
U.S. will sell, donate advanced fighter jets to Honduran forces
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduran officials announced yesterday that the country would accept delivery in December of four advanced fighter jets from the United States, the first of up to 24 it is to receive through sale and donation.
U. S. officials here had confirmed in March that negotiations almost were finished on the sale of F-1SE fighters to Honduras, a key American ally in Central America and home base for many U.S.-supported contra rebels fighting Nicaragua's leftist government.
The Associated Press
Honduran military officials had considered buying Kfir fighter jets from Israel but gave up that idea because of technical details, Col. Manuel Suauz Benavides, the armed forces' public relations director, said yesterday.
Sources in the U.S. Embassy and President Jose Arizona's office confirmed the sale but declined to reveal the price.
The delivery of the advanced fighters would assure Honduras' continued air superiority in Central America.
But embassy sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the first four jets would cost Honduras a total of about $50 million, with
the rest to be donated under a 1954 mutual assistance treaty.
The Honduran air force is built around a core of 12 French Super Mystère B-2 light bombers, first flown in the late 1950s, and the Hondurans have long sought to update their air fleet.
Honduras expects to receive 18 to 24 of the U.S.built jets over 18 months, according to sources close to President Jose Azona.
In recent years Honduras also has received approximately 30 UH-1H helicopters from the United States, and U.S. troops have built eight airstrikes in the country since 1982.
Honduras has one of the smallest armies in Central America, about 17,500 men, and has long relied on its air force as its primary line of defense.
Although Nicaragua has the region's largest army, estimated at more than 100,000 troops, and a larger force, it does not have any fighter jets.
The only other country in the region with a sizable fleet of jet fighters is El Salvador, but most of its planes are outdated and little used.
SURF LAWRENCE
Ride the "Big Kahuna" the Midwest's one & only.
MECHANICAL SURFBOARD
GREAT FOR PROMOTIONS, PARTIES, BARS, SPECIAL EVENTS
CALL NOW! 1-451-2747
Offered to graduating seniors or graduate students. CALL OR COME IN FOR DETAILS.
- $400 REBATE OR NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS
CLASEN-MORSE CHEVROLET 92nd & METCALF OVERLAND PARK, KS.
- Rentals available one day to one week.
* Attracts large crowds.
Confetti's
Quincy's
Bert Haycocks
1-649-6000
(Just 25 minutes from KU.)
PAST SURF OFFS
Kemper Arena
K.C. Comets
Rusty Pelican
KY-102 Vista Hotel's Chill Out
CLASEN-MORSE CHEVROLET
- LOWEST AVAILABLE FINANCING RATES
WE'RE OFFERING YOU AN EXCITING REWARD FOR GRADUATING
- NO PREVIOUS CREDIT NEEDED
- LOW DOWN PAYMENT
We'll make it possible to own your new Chevrolet car or truck you've always dreamed of!
- FINANCING INSTANTLY ASSURED
842-1212
1601 W. 23rd Southern Hills Center
2—10” pizzas with 2 Toppings & 2 Cokes
EVERYDAY TWO FERS
$9.50 Value for only $8.00
Delivered Free No Coupon necessary
HOURS
HOURS We Deliver
Mon.-Thurs. - 11 a.m.-2a.m.
Fri.&Sat. - 11 a.m.-3a.m.
Sunday - 11 a.m.-1a.m.
During
Lunch
Student Senate Office
(in the basement of the Burge Union) is now accepting applications for the following positions:
- Jayhawk Course Source Director
- Associated Students of Kansas Campus Director
- Executive Secretary
- Administrative Assistant
- Treasurer
- Student Executive Committee Chair
Applications are due 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 20th
paid for by the Student Activity Fee
JAYHAWKER APPLICATIONS
for the 1988 Editor and Business Manager positions for the Jayhawker Year Book are now available at:
S. U.A Offices and Activities and Organizations Offices
DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m.Friday, April 17
For more information CALL:
864-3728
between 1 and 5 Mon.-Fri.
TONITE!!
THEY MIGHT
BE GIANTS
on their "Bring Me the Head of Kenny Rogers" Tour 'B7
two Johns from NYC a duo-cum beatbox rock attraction NY's version of
Timbuk 3 Musician 3/87 what do they sound like? Don't ask me CALL (718) 387-6962 T.M.B.G. song of the day hotline ask for John Sure they're in ROLLING STONE isn't everybody? they're in Lawrence...
APRIL 15th w/ HOMESTEAD GRAYS
SPECIALS: $1.00 Kamikaze $1.50 Rockin & Rollin' Rolling Rock Beers
a premium drinking establishment'
737 New Hampshire 843-9723