The Michigan Daily-Thursday, July 19, 1979-Page 5
Somoza's replacement resigns
From The Associated Press
Interim President Francisco Urcuyo
resigned last evening, 36 hours after he
replaced exiled Anastasio Somoza, a
presidential adviser said. He was taken
to Las Mercedes international airport
to be flown out of the country.
Urcuyo - who replaced Somoza after
the Nicaraguan strongman flew to
Miami on Tuesday - left his fortified
bunker last evening and drove to the
airport. An unidentified woman was
crying as she left the bunker with him.
THE PRESIDENTIAL limousine
pulled into the military terminal at Las
Mercedes, the international airport.
Two soldiers fired shots over a car
carrying reporters and said, "Don't
stop here!"
Urcuyo angered the United States by
refusing to hand over power to the rebel
junta. He left the bunker immediately
after a meeting with U.S. Ambassador
Lawrence Pezzullo, who was recalled
earlier in the day and flew to Panama,
then returned to Managua.
Earlier yesterday, rebels who drove
Somoza into exile said his army gave
up. The government denied it, but
defectors flew most of the air force's
planes to exile in Honduras.
MOST OF Somoza's supporters
staying at the Intercontinental Hotel for
the past month fled for the airport after
reports of Urcuyo's departure.
Two teen-aged telephone operators
dashed around the lobby, trying to
change Nicaraguan cordobas into
dollars. One said as he dashed out the
door: "We are going to Miami, but
don't tell anyone."
Meanwhile, Pezzullo flew to Panama
late yesterday from Managua and ac-
cused President Anastasio Somoza's
successor of violating an agreement
with the United States about transfer of
power.
PEZZULLO, recalled by the United
States because of Urcuyo's apparent
decision to continue the war with San-
dinista National Liberation Front
guerrillas, sxaid Urcuyo was "per-
sonally" involved in the pact.
A U.S. cargo plane brought 147
refugees here from Nicaragua late
yesterday after the National Guard told
the crew "you don't leave Nicaragua
without taking these people or we'll
shoot the plane down," an airport
spokesperson in Miami said.
Fraser calls for
gov 't aid to Chrysler
DETROIT (AP) - The United Auto William O'Brien, Chrysler's cheif
Workers (UAW) union opened negotiator said he would "reserve any
negotiations with Chrysler Corp. statement until later on" as to whether
yesterday by promising not to make ita the firm will seek special consideration
strike targed and calling for an un- from the UAW in setting wage deman-
precedented government bailout of the ds.