Chazi Hussein, the first Palestine Liberation Organization representative officially recognized by a Western government, has left Vienna after being ordered out by Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, official sources said today. They said Hussein left yesterday for Damascus. The PLO official was ordered to leave following the arrest two weeks ago of two Palestinians who tried to smuggle automatic weapons and hand grenades into Austria It was widely believed that their attempt was part of “a large conspiracy” against Kreisky.
This belief reportedly prompted President Anwar Sadat of Egypt to cancel his scheduled visit to Austria this week on his way home from a visit to the United States. Another factor in Sadat’s decision was Hussein’s presence in Austria. Since his visit to Israel in 1977, Sadat has been surrounded by tight security against possible assassination attempts. One of the two Palestinians arrested here was identified by police as having connections with radical Palestinian groups.
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