News In Brief

Gunfire erupts in Grenada as prime minister is freed

Gunfire broke out around Prime Minister Maurice Bishop in Grenada's capital Wednesday after he was freed from house arrest by a large crowd of supporters, Mr. Bishop's press secretary said. Don Rojas said Bishop was in the midst of a crowd when truckloads of troops arrived on the scene and shooting began outside barracks in St. George's. Mr. Rojas said Bishop's supporters broke down the gates and ''physically lifted'' him to freedom. The rescue effort was apparently coordinated by former Foreign Minister Unison Whiteman, one of four Cabinet ministers who resigned Tuesday to protest the refusal of Marxist hard-liners in the leadership to reinstate Bishop as prime minister.