Soviets
declare
Olympic
boycott
irrevocable
MOSCOW (UPI) - The. Soviet Union
declared its boycott of the Los Angeles
Olympic Games "irrevocable" yester-
day and accused the Reagan ad-
ministration of supporting plots to kid-
nap and use mind-altering drugs on its
athletes.
Soviet Sports Minister Marat
Gramov also told a news conference
Moscow would not hold an alternative
"Red Olympics" to compete with the
Los Angeles Games, which begin July
28. Eight nations have pulled out of the
Games so far.
IN WASHINGTON, the State Depar-
tment denounced Gramov's charges as
a "classic case of complete distortion."
State Department spokesman Alan
Romberg described the Soviet charges
as "outrageous, totally inexcusable."
In Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the hosts of
the Winter Olympics confirmed
Yugoslavia would participate in the Los
Angeles Games and reiterated regret
over the Soviet boycott.
"WE CANNOT but regret that one
part of athletes will not be there," said
Zdravko Mutin, president of the
Yugoslav Olympic Committee.
"You know our stand," Mutin told
reporters. "We have not changed it and
we shall not change it this year. We
shall go to Los Angeles."
President Reagan said yesterday
there is nothing "that would be
prudent" for him to do personally to
President Reagan looks on as gymnast Kurt Thomas, right, and Charlotte Pearson of the Special Olympics attempt to
light an Olympic torch yesterday at the White House.
convince the Soviets to take part in the
summer Olympics.
The president arranged a late after-
noon ceremony on the South Lawn to
receive the Olympic flame from former
Olympics gymnast Kurt Thomas, and
pass it to Charlotte Pearson, a member
of the Special Olympics for handicap-
ped youth.
The torch was carried Monday
through the streets of Baltimore and
Annapolis. After leaving the White
House, the 9,000-mile relay will con-
tinue through nearby Virginia counties;
Flat Lick, Ky.; Ivy Log, Ga.; and Dixie,
Texas on its way across country to
arrive in Los Angeles July 28.
At a 15-minute informal news con-
ference earlier, Reagan was asked to
explain the Soviets' decision to boycott
the Olympics in America, taking most
Eastern bloc nations out with them.
"The reasons they have given (for the
boycott) are absolutely false," the
president replied, "and we've been able
to prove it."
"You'd have to ask them the reason,"
he said.
Reagan said the Soviets claim "they
don't believe we can provide adquate
protection," but declared, "We have
given them chapter and verse on what
we have done, and there's never been
anything like it."
Lebanese
(ContinuedfromPage 1)
complete failure."
The U.S. role "may have hinged on
the perception that since the Lebanese
government had invited the marines,
(the American force) should fight on
behalf of the government." Consequen-
tly, he said, the U.S., found itself at war
with factions hostile to President Amin
Gemayel's administration.
"A LOT could have been done by the
U.S. government to keep the Lebanese
government from becoming party to
the conflict," he said.
But the former prime minister is op-
timistic about future U.S.-Lebanese
relations. "I think once Lebanon
decides what it wants, it should ap-
proach the U.S.," he said.
According to Hoss, a rash of shellings
in the past three days which has left 20
dead and 105 wounded in Beirut "would
delay but not undo" the progress of the
new cabinet toward a nonsectarian
agreement.
THE NEW cabinet includes members
of Lebanon's principal warring sects
and represents the most recent attempt
at a non-sectarian coalition.
Principal among the topics on its
agenda are the reconstruction of the
army, an examination of the Israeli
occupation of Southern Lebanon, and
the improvement of internal security
with the aim of reopening Beirut's
international airport and harbor and
official blames 'warlords' for violence
eliminating the "green line," which the president be a Maronite christian, top posts."
divides predominantly-Christian East the prime ministera Sunni Muslim, and
Beirut from the Muslim West. the speaker of parliament a Shiite The former prime minister claimed
Lebanon has a "confessional" form Muslim. "the force of events" was making
of government, whereby each top AT A PRESS conference yesterday, Lebanese sectarianism insupportable.
administrative post is reserved Hoss said this political constraint was "You have to abolish sectarianism
exclusively for a member of a "conducive to radicalization." altogether - and then you don't mind
particular sect. The charter France (which sect) is more numerous, and
established in 1943 when it granted "Radical movements are led by (whithemt temjobnuhersad
Lebanon independence provides that persons who are not eligible to the three you fit the man to the job," he said.
Mortar ire kills child in Beirut
From AP and UPI
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Mortar fire killed a child and woun-
ded 22 others in a Beirut playground yesterday just before a
Cabinet panel agreed that Lebanon's new government would
emphasize security "above everything else."
"The blood of these children will not be shed in vain," war-
ned Fadi Frem, commander of the Lebanese Forces, the
militia of the right-wing Christian Phalange party founded by
President Amin Gemayel's father, Pierre.
PRIME MINISTER Rashid Karami vowed his two-week-
old Cabinet would work to restore peace. He met with a
committee of Christian and Moslem Cabinet members that
drafted a policy statement on steps for ending the nine-year-
old civil war.
Details of the statement were kept secret, but Karami said
it would be submitted to the full Cabinet tomorrow. Once ap-
proved by the Cabinet, the statement' will be sent to
Parliament for a vote.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli occupation troops came under
fresh attach by suspected Shiite Moslem guerrillas. Three
soldiers were reported killed and four others wounded.
"WE HAVE achieved what the Lebanese people are
seeking," Karami said after the Cabinet panel's meeting.
"That is, security - security before and above everything
else."
Despite Karami's optimistic assessment of government ef-
forts to curb the violence, renewed sniper and mortar fire
julted the Green Line dividing Beirut into Moslem and
Christian sectors.
A single mortar round slammed into a crowded school
playground in east Beirut's Ashrafiyeh neighborhood.
Christian radio said a 12-year-old boy was killed and 22 other
youngsters were wounded.
SIX CIVILIANS also were reported wounded in shelling of
Christian east Beirut near the playground, pushing the
casualty toll to at least 20 killed and 105 wounded in three
days of violence in the city.
The children had been enjoying recess at the Sayidat al
Bishara school, across the street from a hospital.
"We were eating a sandwich and chatting with our frien-
ds," said a 14-year-old boy quoted by Voice of Lebanon radio.