Chinese mass troops
Chinese troops have moved to places nearer the border on their side both in the Tibetan area facing Sikkim and the Demchok area in Ladakh. This movement follows the Chinese ultimatum to India demanding demolition of certain military installations alleged to be on the Tibetan side of the border in Sikkim within three days or face “grave consequences”. Demchok is in Indian hands and lies half a mile on the Indian side from the so-called actual line of control in Ladakh. Although no further details are available, Indian troops are ready to meet the Chinese if they cross the border.
Iraq Premier exiled
A number of Iraqi army and air force officers have been arrested and several others exiled after forces loyal to President Abdul Salam Arif, with tanks and artillery, crushed an attempted coup by officers led by the Prime Minister, Brig. Arif Abdel Razaak in Baghdad on Thursday [September 17], according to reliable reports received here [Cairo]. Brig. Razaak, a former Chief of Air Force, who had assumed the office of Premier only eleven days ago, was among those exiled. He, accompanied by his wife and six children and eight other senior military officers unexpectedly arrived here [Cairo] in a special aircraft on Thursday afternoon [September 17], a few hours after the abortive coup. The Premier, known for his pro-U.A.R. leanings, appeared to have timed the coup for President Arif’s absence from Baghdad, attending the Casablanca Arab summit, but the President’s brother, Maj.-Gen. Abdel Rahman Arif, Chief of the Iraqi General Staff, rallied loyal forces and foiled the attempt. Sources here [Cairo] said Brig. Razaak wanted to announce Iraq’s immediate union with Egypt, but was prevented from getting near the radio station. Feelings had been running high in Baghdad after the recent rounding up of several editors and journalists known to have pro-U.A.R. sympathies. The coup attempt could lead to severe strain in the relations between Cairo and Baghdad and also wreck the Arab solidarity agreement, signed in Casablanca on Thursday [September 17].
Russia suggests Tashkent for talks
The Soviet Union has suggested Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, as the venue for a meeting between the Prime Minister, Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri and President Ayub Khan, it is learnt. The United Nations Secretary-General, U. Thant, in his report to the Security Council yesterday [September 17] recommended that the two leaders meet in “a third friendly country” In a letter to Mr. Shastri, delivered here [New Delhi] this after [September 18] the Soviet Prime Minister, Mr. Kosygin, is reported to have invited the two sides to meet in Tashkent. The Soviet Prime Minister is also understood to have once again offered his good offices to settle the Indo-Pakistan conflict.
