PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER THURSQAY 1 fAY 1980
From the Press Office SUMMARY OF 7.45 NEWS
Three gunmen have seized the iranian Embassy,,* n. Londonahnd are
threatening to kill 20 hostages. The men, idfejntffied-by police
as Iranian Arabs burst into the Embassy in a daylight raid taking
a policeman, who was on duty outside with them. Calling themselves
the ' group of the martyr', the gunmen have served a series of
demands. on the British Government. ' Ken Begg reports. Iranian
gunmen have threatened to kill their hostages and blow up the
Embassy if their demands are not met and have set a 24 hour
deadline. They have told police they want. the release of 91
prisoners being held for political crimes in Southern. Iran. Speaking
in English and Arabic the gunmen have demanded-an aircraft to fly
all'of them, hostages included from London to an undisclosed
destination. At least 20 hostages are inside the Kensington embassy.
3, including the police officer are thought to be British. The
remainder are members of the Iranian Embassy staff. The gunmen
have requested a doctor for one of the hostages, believed to be
suffering from a gunshot wcund. They . have told police they will
hold them responsible if the wounded man dies. But police say
they have so far been unsuccessful in their efforts to get a doctor
to the Embassy. Hundreds of police are outside the Embassy, many
of them armed and wearing bullet proof vests. The British Government
has made it clear that while it will continue to negotiate with
the gunmen it will not give in to their demands.
There has been serious fighting in the streets of Amsterdam-as
Queen Juliana formally abdicated in favour of her eldest daughter
Beatrix. Malcolm Downing reports.
East and West Germany have signed a series of agreements on
transport connections with West Berlin. Both sides have emphasised
the political significance of the agreement. Malcolm Downing
reports. In Atlanta, Georgia one of President Carter's friends, the former
Budget Director, Mr. Bert Lance has been acquitted on some charges
of violating Federal banking laws. Geoff McMullen reports.
There have been more demonstrations by South African school and
university students over education standards.
The Federal Government introduced legislation into Parliament last
night to deal more speedily with the flotilla of refugee boats in
Darwin Harbour and along the northern coastline. But according
to the Opposition it's a classic example of closing the gate after
the boats had bolted. Barry Cassidy reports.
The Federal Government js to examine health services and law as
.' they affect young people. The study is the Government's response
to a series of resolutions carried at the National Youth Conference
in October last'year.
China has released industrial production figures showing spectacular
gains in consumer goods. The United Press International said the
production figures were the most complete report on the Chinese
economy since the revolution in 1949.
The cost of maintaining an average middle class family in the United
States has risen by more than 10 per cent this year to more than
$ 20,000. 000---