News In Brief

Soviet leader Chernenko calls for more nuclear-free zones

Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko, replying Saturday to a letter from a British mayor, declared support for the creation of more nuclear-free zones in the world.

Western diplomats said they considered the message was aimed more at reaffirming that Mr. Chernenko was fully in control than in delivering a specific political message.

Chernenko has officially been on vacation since mid-July. Unconfirmed reports have been circulating that he had returned here for medical treatment.

Cities in Britain, West Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand have declared themselves nuclear-free zones. No such zones have been declared in the Soviet Union, and officials have said publicly that such moves are ''not considered necessary'' by the authorities.