Iran sects declare cease-fire
The Sun ( 1837-1 985); Apr 23, 1979; ProQursr Hisroriral Newspapers: Baltimore See, The (1837-1986)
pg. A4
Iran sects
declare
cease-fire
Tehra (API—Turkish and Kurd-
ish factions eclared a cease-fire yester-
day alter three days of fighting that took a
reported 25 lives in the northwestern town.
of Naghadeh. the government announced-
But television reports said shooting
broke out again at dark and that several
persons were killed.
The government said the cease-fire
was reached after religious leaders and
government representatives—headed by
the west Azerbaijan governor, Gen. Mo-
hammad Mehdi Abasi—met with leaders
of the two sides.
The announcement was the first indica-
tion that members of the Turkish minority
were involved in the fighting with the
Kurds.
The reasons for the lighting were not
immediately clear, but a government
spokesman said the cease-lire agr ement
called for immediate negotiations.
Naghadeh. heavily populated by Turks,
is In west Azerbaijan province, about 15
miles northwest of Mahabad. a major
Kurdish city. Observers said they did not
believe the rivalry was religious in nature
since both groups belong to the Sunni Mus-
limsecL
The fighting erupted Friday after uni-
dentified gunmen opened fire on a politi-
cal rally of the Kurdish Democratic Front
party , killing a reported 25 persons and in-
juring many others.
About 600 government troops were
sent to the town, but held back at first
when fired upon with weapons apparently
stolen when Islamic revolutionary forces
toppled the government of Shah Moham-
mad Reza Pah lavi in February.
The fighting In Naghadeh was the third
major explosion of political violence in
the country since the shah was toppled.
Last month Kurdish autonomists battled
government and revolutionary forces in
the Kurdish capital of Sanandaj for about
a week, Turkoman tribesmen earlier this
month fought with Islamic revolutionary
forces in the northeastern town of Gon
bad-e Kavus.
In other developments, the religious
leader of the Sunni Muslims in Khuzestan
province announced he was leaving the
country to protest actions of Iran's revolu-
tionary committees.
Sheik Mohammad Taher al Shoheir
Khaqani said the situation ia”has be-
come unbearable.”
Reprodsoed with permissios of the oapydght oweer. Ferther repradoctioe prohibited without permissioe.
