Egypt considers break with Soviets over invasion

Egypt announced Sunday it had decided to reduce the size of the Soviet Embassy staff in Cairo and will consider a break in relations with the Soviet Union because of its military intervention in Afghanistan. The Presidential-Affairs Minister, Mansour Hassan, told reporters that Egypt "condemns the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, which we consider a serious threat not only there but also in the Middle East."

Mr. Hassan said Egypt has also decided to cancel all political relations on every level with the Marxist regime in South Yemen and the Baathist regime in Syria for their support of the Soviet aggression against Afghanistan.

Mr. Hassan said Egypt was prepared to give military training in Cairo to Afghan volunteers and said, "We have no objections in sending arms [to the Afghan people] whenever possible to resist the Soviet aggression.