Bazargan asks to leave key Iran post
The Sss ( 1837- 1 985); Sep 1, 1979; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Baltimore Ssa, The (1t37-198e
p . A2
Bazargan
as to leave
key Iran post
Tehran. ISAI l—Pr ime Minister
Mebdi Bazargan asked to be relieved of
his duti erday and called on the pee-
pie of us a midnight television ad-
dress to ask Ayatollah Rubollah Khomeini
totake the reins of government.
“ I have tendered my resignation a long
time ago. I would be pleased tobe relieved
of my post so that I can go borne to relax
and give others the chance to come and
tfle over. the government,” Mr. Baz.argan
said in his hour-long nationwide telecast.
‘1 plead to the people to request Aya.
toflab Khomeini to come to ‘Yehran and
takeover the responsibilities of the affairs
of the country.” said the 72-year-old for-
mer university professor, who has been
sharply criticized recently (or the Woody
fighting in the northern province of Kur-
distan.
Spiritual leader Khomeini, 19, estah-
lisbed his base in the holy city of Qom, 100
miles south bE the capital, after he in-
spired the islamic uprising that over-
tuned the monarchy of Shah Mohamznad
Reza Pahlavi in February. Ayatollah
Khomeini appointed Mr. Bazargan tobead
a provisional revolutionary regime, but he
and his Muslim clerical supporters retain
ñpremeantbority.
“Even religIous preachers and
jspeakersl in funeral orations for revolu-
tionary guards (who died fiflting in Kur-
dlstanj seem to have no other subject but
to criticize the government for fumbling
and lack of decisiveness,” Mr. Bazargan
said.
Looking depressed and lacking his
Usual buoyant style, he said:
‘i,Inlortunately, everyone in the country is
not aware of the fact that we have a war
cabinet which holds regular sessions on
Kurdintan. ‘the government is watching
events carefully there. But the fact is the
government has been a knife with no
blade.”
Kurdistan's 4 million Kurdish inhabi
tants have been demanding home rule for
the province. Insurgents have clashed re-
peatedly with government force since
March, leaving hundreds dead on both
sides and towns and villages partially de-
stroyedby the fighting.
“True, we have an Army, regular and
state police. Not only were their arms
taken away but many groups even or
posed their existence right from the outset
of the revolution. To add to the flames of
criticism, newspapers and television,
which operates with government funds,
attack and criticize the government,” Mr.
Bazargansaid.
lie added that if be remained silent
against the criticism, “it would he consid-
ered as accepting it.”
Referring to charges by Ayatollah
Khomeini that his government has not
been revolutionary enough, Mr. Bazargan
said: “We have not acted in a revolu-
tionary way.. - But if acting in a revolu-
tionary manner means going against all
international standards and disregard of
laws, I accept the accusation.”
Mr. Bazargan concluded that he and his
colleagues in the government “are not
trying to hold on to our positions-”
The Kurds have told Ayatollah
Khomeini and the government that
“Kurdistan will he your graveyard if you
continue to brutally suppress the aspira-
tiouso(theKstdistuussses.”
Ayatollah Khomeini ordered the rebel-
lion crushed and said if the Kurds obeyed
his commands, they would be immune
from revenge and persecution.
Mr. Bazargan was chosen hy Ayatollah
Khomeini to restore order in Kurdistas,
but Mr. Bazurgan's government has re-
peatedly been undermined by Ayatollah
Khomeini and his appointed Islamic revo-
lutionary committees.
Earlier yesterday, Ayatollah Khomeini
accused the Kurdish rebels of seeking to
create a “heathen Communist state,” and
another influential cleric warned that if
armed resistance continued “we shall
eliminate them no matter what the cost”
The outlawed Kurdish Democratic
party accused Ayatollah Khomeini of or-
deringthe massacre of Innocent Kurds.
Despite the strongly worded state-
ments, both sides appeared determined to
avoid a major military confrontation. A
Kurdish goodwill delegation remained in
the Iranian capItal, and the government
and rebel forces exchanged prisoners.
The official news agency Pars said 64
government soldiers were released by the
rebel command in the Kurdish stronghold
of Mahabad, and 36 revolutionary guards
and a like number of rebels were ex
changed in the Knzt}ish town 01 Paven,
Sporadic clashes have been reported in
recent days in the Kurdish region, but both
sides have indicated the situation has re-
mainS generally calm with an unofficial
cease-fire holding for the fifth straight
day around Mahabad, where the govern-
ment has stationed a large force,
Reprodsced with permissios of the oapprighl awoer. Farther repradaclioo prohibited withoal permissioo.
