U.S. Files Suit to Close PLO’s U.N. Mission

The United States took another step Tuesday to try to force the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s observer mission to the United Nations, seeking a federal court order to bar the PLO from continuing to operate out of a Manhattan townhouse.

The government also wants to stop the head of the mission, Zehdi Labib Terzi, and five other PLO employees from spending any PLO funds for expenses of the mission or to further the group’s interests. Under the 1987 Anti-Terrorism Act, which went into effect Monday, the PLO was found to be a terrorist organization.

Terzi met Tuesday night with former Atty. Gen. Ramsey Clark, the PLO’s legal counsel, who has 20 days to reply to the suit. Earlier, Terzi said of the possible freeze on funds: “The only asset the PLO has here is the house I have my office in and live in. It would be some kind of terrorism--financial terrorism--if we could not receive funds.”

He also has threatened that “if they force me to leave, I will have to move to the United Nations,” which is international territory.

An attorney who is familiar with the case, speaking on the condition that he not be identified, said Clark probably will respond by arguing that the United States has no jurisdiction over the PLO mission. Clark will contend that the mission is protected by the U.N.’s headquarters agreement.

In the General Assembly, the Soviet Union and 42 other U.N. members introduced a draft resolution on the issue that is expected to be voted on today. The resolution backs the position of Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar, who earlier had called on the United States to submit the dispute to arbitration. Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III has refused to accept such a move, however.