December 20, 1990

Soviet F.M. Eduard Shevardnadze abruptly resigns warning that "reactionaries" threatened USSR with dictatorship; specula- tion concerning effect on Gulf crisis [NYT, WT, WP 12/21].

UN Sec. Council adopts resolution 681 deploring Israel's recent deportation of 4 Palestinians and indirectly endorsing international peace conference on Middle East [DDS 12/21 in FBIS 12/21; NYT, WT, WP, MEM 12/21; JPI 12/29].

General strike called for by UNLU is observed throughout o.t. [FJ 12/24].

Media in Damascus report Kuwaiti gov't.- in-exile has granted Syria $110 million loan [MEM 12/21].