Italian Defense Chief Quits in Protest on PLO

Defense Minister Giovanni Spadolini resigned and his pro-U.S. Republican Party pulled out of the governing coalition today in an attempt to bring down the government over Italy’s release of a PLO official sought by the United States in the Achille Lauro hijacking.

Spadolini said he expected the action would force the government to resign, but Premier Bettino Craxi said he would not quit without a vote of confidence in Parliament.

Craxi said he will take the government’s case to Parliament on Thursday.

Angry Response

Asked if he was going to the presidential palace to hand in his resignation and end the 26-month-old government, Craxi snapped, “Why should I go to the Quirinale? Tomorrow I will go to Parliament.”

The Republicans accused the government of failing to consult coalition partners on “major subjects of the fight against terrorism and fundamental political interests” involving foreign policy issues.

Spadolini, a former premier, has condemned the release of the PLO official, Abul Abbas, and said he only learned of Abbas’ departure from television.

U.S. Proof Cited

Washington said today it had proof that Abbas, a top aide to PLO leader Yasser Arafat, masterminded last week’s hijacking. (Story on Page 2.)

Abbas was aboard the Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers that was forced down in Sicily by U.S. carrier-based jet fighters. Italy allowed Abbas to leave for Yugoslavia on Saturday.

The small but influential Republicans have three ministers, including the key posts of defense and finance, in the 30-member Cabinet. The government was formed in August, 1983, and is one of Italy’s longest lasting governments.

The other coalition partners are the Christian Democrats, Craxi’s Socialists, Social Democrats and Liberals.

Even without the Republicans, the coalition musters an absolute majority in both houses of Parliament.