P110 CEEFAX 110  Sun 19 Dec  14:42/44
    
    
    
    
                                        
 The former head of the French counter- 
 intelligence service has said hj gave  
 the Vatican three weeks notice of the  
 assassination attempt on the Pope.     
                                        
 The attempt, in Rome in May 1981, left 
 the Pope seriously ill after being shot
 by a Turkish terrorist.                
                                        
 The French official s!id he was tipped 
 off about the attack while in Morocco, 
 and informed the Vatican.              
                                        
 He made no mention of any Bulgarian    
 link in the attempt, despite claims    
 recently by Italian police.            
                                        
   News Headlines 101 News Index 190