The World - News from Sept. 29, 1988

Italy’s naval force in the Persian Gulf will stop escorting merchant ships and will limit itself to radar and radio checks, the Italian Defense Ministry said. A ministry statement said the five-vessel force, which has been escorting every Italian ship through the gulf, will change its role to one of “control and watching over with the aim of acting as a deterrent.” The statement came a day after the United States announced that it is ending its direct escort of Kuwaiti tankers re-registered under the American flag. Italy sent its force to the gulf last September after an Iranian speedboat attacked an Italian tanker.