News In Brief

New Salvadorean law sets ceiling on land ownership

The majority right-wing Salvadorean Constituent Assembly Wednesday passed a motion setting a maximum land holding for any individual at 618 acres and allowing owners to freely divide property over that limit among relatives. The opposition Christian Democrats had been pressing for a 371-acre maximum.

Peasants' union leader Jorge Camacho said the motion would release a maximum of 32,000 acres, but conditions of sale meant owners could form companies to retain their land. Mr. Camacho predicted land put up for sale would be of the lowest quality.

Meanwhile, the Reagan administration presented the Salvadorean government with a list of demands for continuing military aid, including exiling of individuals suspected of involvement in right-wing death squads. Sources said the US stand was delivered Sunday by Vice-President George Bush during his visit to San Salvador.