[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978STATE293746_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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ORIGIN SS-15
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 EA-10 NEA-11 ISO-00 SSO-00 ARA-11 /060 R
66011
DRAFTED BY:S/S-O:DSUMMERS
APPROVED BY:S/S-O:DSUMMERS
S/S-O:RCASTRODALE
——————092712 191307Z /50
O 191252Z NOV 78
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUDTC/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3869
AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT IMMEDIATE
USLO PEKING IMMEDIATE
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FOLLOWING REPEAT GEORGETOWN 3778 SENT ACTION STATE NOV 19.
QUOTE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 3778
E.O. 11652: NA
TAGS: CASC, OREP (RYAN, LEO) GY
SUBJ: CODEL RYAN: FIRST REPORTS FROM PORT KAITUMA
REF: 3774
1. POLICE COMMISSIONER LLOYD BARKER ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PRIME MINISTER CALLED AMBASSADOR 0715 LOCAL TIME (0520 EST) TO INFORM HIM THAT POLICE UNITS HAD GOTTEN TO THE AIRSTRIP AT PORT KITUMA.
2. ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER GOG POLICE ON THE SCENE CONFIRMED THE DEATHS OF CONGRESSMAN LEO RYAN; MR. ROBERT
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BROWN, NBC; MR. DON HARRIS, NBC; PLUS ONE AS YET UNIDENTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHER. THRE ARE ALSO SIX WOUNDED AT THE AIRSTRIP INCLUDING DCM DWYER; SONG, NBC; MISS JACKIE SPEIER (LEGAL COUNSEL TO CODEL); PLUS TWO OTHERS AS YET UNIDENTIFIED.
3. COMMISSIONER BARKER WAS INFORMED THAT MEDIVAC C-141 IS DUE AT TIMEHRI AIRPORT 1000 HOURS LOCAL (0800 EST). HE WAS URGED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN WOUNDED COULD BE EVACUATED FROM PORT KAITUMA TO TIMEHRI AIRPORT, GEORGETOWN. BURKE UNQUOTE
VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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