Major Blames Foes For Mad Cow Crisis

Farmers demanded Tuesday that Britain order the destruction of its oldest cattle to calm public fears of the mad cow disease, but Prime Minister John Major refused and blamed the entire crisis on his political opponents.

The National Farmers Union suggested the public could be reassured if Britain ordered the death of thousands of older cattle that are believed likely to have contracted the fatal disease from eating sheep offal.

U.S. military officials in Germany, meanwhile, ordered commissaries in the Mediterranean region and Scotland to pull British beef products from their shelves.

Major was quick to blame his political opponents for fomenting public fears at home and abroad about British beef.

Major said there was no scientific reason to slaughter the older cattle.

“I hope that sound judgment will prevail, but if it does not, those who have destroyed that confidence will be the people to blame … and they sit there, there and there!” Major said, pointing at opposition parties.