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News Digest Edited by Roger Price Afghan ruler overthrown President tried to leave country KABUL, Afghanistan — President Najibullah tried to flee the country early Thursday as rebels advanced toward the capital, but he was stopped and then stripped of power, a senior government official said. There were unconfirmed reports that he had been arrested and another that he had escaped the country. It was not immediately clear who was running the government. It ap peared some generals and at least one rebel leader might be in charge, but officials provided conflicting details on the size and composition of the leadership coalition. The toppling of the Soviet-installed dictator had appeared increasingly likely in recent days. It also raised fears that Afghanistan could collapse in chaos and a bloodbath unprece dented in the 13-ycar-old civil war. Pakistan called for an immediate cease-fire by the numerous and often antagonistic Muslim guerrilla groups. The United States and U.N. Secre tary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali also urged restraint, and said the reb els should work to implement a U.N. peace plan. “Fighting is violence, fighting is death,” said State Department spokes woman Margaret D. Tulwilcr. Some rebel groups declared the U.N. plan dead, and one radical or ganization vowed to continue fight ing the government and rivals unless a strict Islamic fundamentalist gov ernment was installed. If Najibullah’s fall provokes fight ing among the guerrilla factions, Iran could find an opening to try to spread its brand of fundamentalism in Af Afghanistan Chronology 1978 April: Afghan government overthrown by pro-Soviet Marxist party. Armed, non-communist resistance begins. 1979 December: The Soviets launch a massive airlift of forces to save the Kabul government. Babrak Karmal installed as president. 1986 May: Karmal is replaced by Najibullah, chief of the secret service. Fighting escalates toward the end of the year when the Pakistan-based guerrillas receive U.S. weapons. 1988 April 15: Afghanistan and Pakistan sign an accord clearing the way for the Red Army's departure, but the guerrillas continue fighting. 1989 Feb. 15: The last of an estimated 115,000 Soviet soldiers departs. 1990 June: Najibullah makes sweeping constitutional reforms. 1991 April: Guerrillas capture the southern city of Khost, Najibullah’s biggest military setback. 1992 March 18: Najibullah offers to transfer power to an interim government established under a U.N. peace plan. The guerrillas say they will keep fighting. 1992 April 15: Muslim rebels claim control of the country's main military base, 35 miles from Kabul. 1992 April 16: Najibullah reportedly resigns. ghanistan. A few of the smaller guer rilla groups have lies lo Iran, but the largest factions do not. Kabul was calm despite several days of rumors that Najibullah had fled or tried to flee. State-run Kabul Radio did not report the change in Mr power until Thursday night. Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Abdul Wakil said Najibul lah tried to escape with a brother and a close aide but was stopped by rebel militiamen at Kabul’s international airport about 2 a.m. Thursday. Poles ponder package problems WARSAW, Poland — Consider the perils of dyeing your hair follow ing French instructions, fighting an ant infestation with instructions in Arabic or ending up with a can of squid rings in garlic sauce by acci dent. Scrutinizing packages has become a national pastime for Poles newly confronted by a dazzling array of imported products. The problem: only a few arc labeled in Polish. Nearly 2 1/2 years into Eastern Europe’s most dramatic economic reforms, Poles can choose from a well-packaged plethora of goods that could hardly have been imagined during the 1980s, when leaky vinegar bottles— labeled in Polish, to be sure — were virtually all that was piled high. But there is already resentment that even routine marketing trips re semble a “Let’s go shopping” lesson in a foreign language class. Some Poles arc responding with the first hints of a “Buy Polish” drive, others simply with confusion. “When the Polish market has been swamped by imported products, the consumer is to a great extent inca pacitated,” said Andrzej Nowak of the Department of Economic Strate gies. “Sometimes I take the risk, not knowing exactly what is in it,” said shopper Beala Winter. But the results can be unpleasant. Imagine taking a swig of what looks like a refreshing lemonade, only to get a mouthful of a sickly sweet syrup meant to be diluted seven limes over. Officials queried on Iran-Contra WASHINGTON — Iran-Con tra prosecutors recently questioned George Shultz and Caspar Wein berger, who told Congress four years ago that they knew little about the Reagan administration’s secret arms sales to Iran while they were in the cabinet. Knowledgeable sources have told The Associated Press that prosecu tors want to know if the two men lied. Shultz, a former secretary of state, told the AP that prosecutors questioned him “about some as pects of my testimony” to Con gress and told him he is a subject of their probe. Being a “subject” means Shultz’s conduct is within the scope of a grand jury investigations. It is less serious than being a “target,” a person the prosecutor can link to a crime with substantial evidence. Weinberger, a former defense secretary, did not respond to re peated requests for comment. His attorney, Robert Bennett, said Weinberger had been questioned, but would not say if he also is a subject of the investigation. Shull/ has hired prominent attorney Lloyd Cutler to represent him. Weinberger testified in 1987 that he didn’t recall being told about the White House-approved 1985 arms deliveries to Iran. Shull/ said he wasn’t informed of the 1986 deliveries. Four non-government sources told the AP that in recent months, prosecutors have questioned over a dozen former Reagan administra tion figures about the Iran initia tive and what they think Shultz and Weinberger knew about it. The sources all arc familiar with the investigation and all spoke only on condition of anonymity. Those witnesses were from the State Department, the Pentagon and the National Security Council and include the Bush administration’s U.S. ambassador to Japan. Michael Armacosl. Clinton says Bush ruined economy with poor policy PHILADELPHIA — Democrat Bill Clinton called President Bush’s rec ord on the economy the worst in 50 years and said his own candidacy offers the best hope for a domestic revival. Bush renewed his support for al lowing Americans to borrow against future earnings to pay for college and job training. Bush and Clinton spoke just min utes apart. Clinton outlined his own economic plans, ranging from tax incentives for new investment and research and development to full funding for Head Start. They included blueprints to ease the transition away from defense production. Clinton delivered his economic message at the University of Pennsyl vania’s Wharton School of Business. “Our president docs not have a strategy,” Clinton said. “His strategy is do nothing. The only time he changes is when the polls change or the pres sures mount.” Clinton said Bush’s “single driv ing strategy” has been low taxes on corporations and upper-income indi viduals and keeping government out of the way. “George Bush’s presidency has produced slower economic growth, slower job growth and slower income growth than any administration since the Great Depression,” Clinton said. “It is not a Republican or a Demo cratic issue,” he said. “It’s America against the rest of the world. Every other advanced nation is governed by a strategy for increasing growth." Clinton said Bush has been taking cues from his Republican opponents and from Clinton himself. He said the president’s advocacy of measures to help pay for education and job training has long represented a centerpiece of his own campaign, and added that until now the admini stration has waged “an aU-out assault on college aid to middle-class stu dents.” Nebraskan Editor Jana Pedersen, 472-1766 Managing Editor Kara Walls Assoc News Editors Chris Hopfensperger Kris Karnopp Opinion Page Editor Alan Phslps Wire Editor Roger Price Copy Desk Editor Wendy Navratll Sports Editor Nick Hvtrsk Assistant Sports Editor Tom Clouss Arts & Entertainment Editor Stacey McKenzie Diversions Editor Dionne Searcey Photo Chief MlcheUe Paulman Night News Editors Adeana Lanin John Adkiaaon Wendy Mott Tom Kunz Art Director Scott Maurar GenorM Manager DonShattH Production Manager Katharine Pdicky Advert)**# Manager Todd Sears Sates Manager Eric Krlngd Classified Ad Manager Annette Suapar Publications Board Chairman BIM Vobejda, 472-2584 Profesaiona) Adviser Don Walton, 473-7301 FAX NUMBER 472-1761 The Daily Nebraskan(USPS 144-060) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34.1400 R St.. Lincoln, NE, Monday through Friday during the aca demic year; weekly during summer sessions Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas ana comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9a m. and 5p m Monday through Friday The public also has access to the Publications Board For information, contact Bill Vobejda, 472-2586 Subscription price is $50 for one year Postmaster Send address changes to the Daily Ne braskan, Nebraska Union 34, 1400 R St..Lincoln. NE 68588-0448 Second class postage paid at Lincoln, NE ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1992 DAILY NEBRASKAN Trade deficit drops dramatically; unemployment hits 5-month low WASHINGTON — Amcr- confirmation of a strcngth ica’s trade deficit narrowed cning labor market and dramatically to S3.38 billion economy.’’ in February, its best showing New Commerce Sec in nearly nine years, as ex- retary Barbara Hackman ports climbed to an all-time Franklinhailedlhcbigim high and imports dropped for provement in the trade a second straight month, the deficit, calling it a mark of government reported Thurs- “strong U.S. competitive day. ness.” The Commerce Depart- “The slower pace of ment reported that the deficit economic growth among fell a sharp 43.1 percent . luDr.0-rc- il pvpoptq 1 *ty foreign markets pres compared to January’s 1m- la. CArumcv ents an export challenge balance of $5.95 billion. |$41.198 billion j|$37.815 billion] for ^ rest of 1992” she More than one- th ird of the Roundtd ngixea, seasonally adjusted Said, improvement came from a big Private economists agreed surge in sales of American aircraft and parts, but there were also strong gains in shipments of U.S. farm products, autos and computers. The Labor Department said the number of newly laid off Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell to a five-month low of 415,000 during the first week in April. The decline of 18,000 from the previous week was a pleasant surprise to economists, who had been expecting an increase. They said it offered at least the hope that the fledgling recovery was al last being felt in labor markets. Labor Secretary Lynn Marlin proclaimed the drop in jobless claims provided “further with that assessment, with some suggesting that February’s report would represent Amer ica’s best trade performance for the year. Through the first two months of the year, the merchandise trade deficit is running at an annual rate of $56 billion, even better than last year’s $66.3 billion imbalance, a performance that marked the first time the deficit has been under S 1(X) billion since 1983. While most economists had been forecast ing the deficit would rise again this year to around $75 billion, a few said the February trade performance was making them rethink that view. 5 escape from jail, 2 arrested while still in uniforms DAKOTA CITY — Two of five pris oners who escaped from the Dakota County Jail were captured in nearby Sioux City, Iowa, after police found them drunk and still wearing their jail uniforms. The two men — Ccdrick Hamilton and Robert Dale — each had escaped from the jail one other time. A spokeswoman in the county sher iffs office said Thursday that the other three escapees were still at large. Hamilton, 18, and Dale, 22, both of Macy, were part of a group of five prison ers who escaped from the jail in Dakota City early Tuesday morning. One of the five escapees stole an extra set of cell keys from a desk in the sher iffs office, and used them hours later to release himself and the four others, au thorities said. Dakota County Sheriff Jim Wagner said Hamilton and Dale were picked up by Sioux City police Wednesday mom ing after receiving a phone complaint ol two loud intoxicated men. “When they turned them around to handcuff them, the officers saw the Dakota County Jail’ on their backs,” Wagner said. ‘‘It’s unbelievable, but it’s the ruth. ^