Shultz, meeting Gromyko, rejects Soviet explanation

Secretary of State George Shultz angrily rejected as ''totally unacceptable'' Andrei Gromyko's explanation of why the Soviet Union shot down a Korean jetliner with 269 people aboard. Mr. Shultz told reporters the Soviet foreign minister refused to apologize for the incident or take steps to prevent a similar occurrence.

Shultz made the statement after a private meeting with Mr. Gromyko at the US ambassador's residence in Madrid - the highest-level meeting since the jet was downed. Shultz said the US will continue to try to force the Soviets to change their position on the downing of the plane.