Civil Rights Commission Firings

WASHINGTON--President Reagan, frustrated in his attempt to replace members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights with his own appointees, fired three of the six current members of the panel yesterday and asked the Senate to confirm his own nominees.

Reagan said he was taking the action to break a five-month deadlock over his controversial nominees.

Civil rights groups were outraged five months ago when the president tried to replace three of the six commission members. He fired those three-Mary Berry. Blandina Ramirez and Rabbi Murray Saltzman.

So far, none of Reagan's nominees, Morris Abram, John Bunzell and Robert lestro, have been confirmed.

Reagan's action leaves the panel without its required quorum of four, meaning it cannot even meet until at least one more member is confirmed by the Senate.

Berry and Ramirez were appointed to the commission by President Jimmy Carter.