News In Brief

French defense minister goes to Jordan for arms sales talks

French Defense Minister Charles Hernu arrived in Jordan Saturday night, resuming a visit to discuss arms sales that was cut short last month by France's accord with Libya on withdrawing troops from Chad.

Jordan has been seeking alternatives to United States weapons since the US canceled a planned sale of Stinger antiaircraft missiles last March.

In Cairo, Egypt asked the US Sunday to sell air defense weapons to Jordan, Egyptian sources said. They said the request was made during yesteray's meetings between US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and President Hosni Mubarak and other senior Egyptian officials.