Expressions of sympathy to Israel on the shooting down of the El Al Constellation by Bulgarian gunners last week came from two widely differing sources yesterday–Soviet Communist Party leader Nikita S. Khrushchev and Vatican mouthpiece “L’Osservatore Romano,” the press reported here today.
At a reception at the Swiss Legation in Moscow yesterday, Mr. Khrushchev is understood to have expressed his regrets to Israel Ambassador Joseph Avidar over the destruction of the liner and the 58 persons aboard.
Condemning the shooting down of the plane, the Vatican newspaper said the “terrifying accident evidenced from what distance the smiles, good wishes and handshakes were exchanged in Geneva.” It also hit Bulgarian attempts to keep the details of the incident from becoming known. “What is there to hide#” L’Osservatore Romano asked
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