Soviets quickly shun claim for airliner compensation

The United States presented the Soviet Union Monday with a claim for compensation for the shooting down of a South Korean airliner but it was rejected on the spot, the State Department said.

West Germany and Belgium formally suspended civilian air traffic with the Soviet Union for 14 days, starting on Thursday, to protest the shooting down of a South Korean airliner by Soviet fighters Sept. 1.

Pilots from nine West European countries began their 60-day boycott on flights to the Soviet Union. Their action will affect more than 40 flights a week to Moscow.