Singapore questions Cuba as nonaligned leader

At a conference of nonaligned foreign ministers here, Singapore openly questioned Cuba's right to lead nonaligned countries, saying its close links with Moscow seriously eroded the credibility and effectiveness of the movement. The conference had opened with urgent appeals for unity. An opening speech by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said the big powers were using economic and military threats to turn the nonaligned countries against one another.

Before the conference began, Iran had said it would seek the suspension of Iraq from the nonaligned movement until it withdrew its troops from Iranian territory.