News In Brief

Soviet Parliament delay heightens Andropov doubt

A delay in announcing the regular winter session of the Soviet parliament has raised new doubts about the health of President Yuri Andropov. Government officials said last month that the Supreme Soviet would meet in the second half of December for its two-day sitting. By tradition the session has always been announced a month in advance, and the last possible date for keeping to this rule passed yesterday.

Officially Mr. Andropov is reported to have a cold, but Western sources here believe it is much more serious. The Supreme Soviet session has nearly always been held in November. Diplomats said the postponement until December was itself a sign of uncertainty about the leader's condition.