Fighting Between Jordan Army, Guerrillas Spreading; 80 Killed, Scores Wounded

Diplomatic sources here said today that the fighting that has flared anew in Jordan between Royalist troops and guerrillas is serious and getting worse. Several dozen and perhaps as many as 80 have been killed and scores wounded in the battles around Irbid and Jerash in northern Jordan, the sources said. King Hussein’s forces have entered Irbid, Jordan’s second largest city, in violation of the agreement with the guerrillas that ended the Jordanian civil war last September. The guerrillas also violated the agreement by refusing to lay down their arms in cities other than Amman, the capital. Israeli sources say King Hussein is much stronger now than he was in September and is capable of dealing with any new attempt to overthrow his regime. Reports reaching here say there is a serious crisis in the Sudan which has been heightened by recent moves toward the federation of that country with Egypt and Libya. The trouble stems from the opposition of young army officers to the Khartoum government’s increasing dependence on Egypt, the reports said. Reports from Beirut, Lebanon said today that Syria’s new military regime which ousted the government of President Nurredin al-Atassi last week will seek to improve the country’s economy, its army and its relations with other Arab countries. Some observers believe this could result in Syria’s acceptance of United Nations peace resolutions for the Middle East and the American peace initiative.