WAR IN BRIEF : BELGIUM : Government Wins Vote of Confidence

The Belgian government and its foreign minister survived a parliamentary confidence vote over the visit of a top lieutenant in the Abu Nidal terrorist group on the eve of the war. Foreign Minister Mark Eyskens faced probable forced resignation had the government lost the vote over the Jan. 16 visit of Walid Khaled of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah. Khaled was granted a tourist visa to Brussels during negotiations that led to the release of four Belgians held hostage in the Middle East. Other Western governments were alarmed over the incident, which occurred despite calls for increased security against possible Iraqi-sponsored terrorism.