News In Brief

Argentine President names civilians over the military

President Raul Alfonsin has named new heads of the Argentine armed forces, jumping junior, nonpolitical figures over more senior generals and admirals. His action is expected to send into retirement over half the Army generals and two-thirds of the admirals in the Navy.

Mr. Alfonsin also asked banks to defer payments on the foreign debt six months, and created a special commission to bring Argentina's nuclear development program more closely under his control. He has pledged that the nation's nuclear development program will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.