Soviet dissident ends his strike, French told

Imprisoned Soviet dissident Anatoly Shcharansky has ended his hunger strike and is in good health, French Communist Party leader Georges Marchais said Monday, citing a letter he had received from Soviet leader Yuri Andropov.

Mr. Marchais said he had received a reply to a letter he sent Mr. Andropov requesting information on the reasons for Mr. Shcharansky's detention, his health, and the prospects for his release. Mr. Marchais said the letter added that ''It is obvious that the possibility (for a prison sentence reduction) is not aided by noisy campaigns and external pressures. On the contrary, that prevents it.'' A member of a French support committee for Mr. Shcharansky said Monday that he had spoken to the dissident's mother Saturday and she denied that her son had ended his hunger strike.