News In Brief

Reagan criticizes latest Soviet arms proposals

President Reagan criticized new arms control proposals by Soviet President Yuri Andropov, saying they would allow Moscow to keep SS-20 nuclear missiles in Europe while barring NATO from deploying similar weapons.

In his weekly radio speech Saturday, Mr. Reagan also called on Mr. Andropov to drop his threat to halt Geneva negotiations on Euromissiles if NATO carries out plans to begin deploying US medium-range missiles in Western Europe in December. Reagan said he would negotiate ''for as long as necessary to reach an agreement'' even after the US weapons are installed.

The President also lauded a decision by NATO defense ministers Friday to withdraw 1,400 old nuclear warheads from the NATO arsenals.