Tebran, Iran (Reuter)—Iranian gov-
ernment forces were reported yesterday
to be within 5 miles of the Kurdish rebel
capital of Mahabad and an Army spokes-
man said: “We can take it at any time.”
Officials of the banned Kurdish Demo-
cratic party (KDP), whibh Is leading the
rebellion, denied the Army had advanced
from positions 20 miles outside the town
and said guerrilla forces were on the alert
to resist a government attack.
An Army spokesman at the Ununieh
barracks north of the . Kurdish stronghold
said' by telephone: “Troops are between 6
and .8 kilometers [ 3.6 to 4.8 milesj from
Mahabat We can take itat any time with .
out any serious confrontatIon or resist-
ance on the part of the Kurdish rebels.”
The spokesman acknowledged that the
Kurt had tanks and antiaircraft batteries
taken ‘from the Kurdlsh-held Mahabad
birrackt
He addedi “We are swatting orders
from Tebran tO enter Mahabad.”
The armed forces commands, Maj.
Gem. HoseS Shaker, said on Mate radio
yeaterday that Mahabad bad to be occu-
pied by the Army. for the sake of peace
and security in the region.
He said the government wan repared
ultimately to move the Mahabad garrison
outsidethe town..
“We will not arrest ordinary members
ol. the EDP, but the leiders named by
l earn [ Ayatollah Ruhoilahj Khomeini will
hearrestéd and handed over to the respon-
sible authorltis7he added.
Both aides -said the Kurdish town was
.ráwftngSd oilS andgasollü and the
KDPaccadthi:govamnesot paitisj
there g i enda,aaee**ondcWock#.J
H. The,$flclaiPartifli AgeS ” said
rd capital
armed rebels had takenover gasoline sta-
tions in Mababad and guerrillas at exit
roads were preventing civilians from
leaving.
The KIM ' said yesterday it was reject-
ing a call from the unofflcial'head of
state, Ayatollah Khomeini, to surrender. A
senior official said: “We have decided to
defend ourselves and we will fight.”
Sources close to a five-man Kurdish
peace mission that has been trying to
reach a settlement in talks with govern-
Ment leaders here said one of Its mem-
hers, Rahim Self Ghazi, had left Tebran
for the southern town of Ahwaz for talks
with th local governor-genqral, Rear
Adm. Abmad Madanl ,
The report could not be independently
conf irmed and the sources did not give a
reason for the meeting.
Admiral Madani is governor-general of
Khuzestan province and commander of
Iran's Navy. He commanded forces that
stifled Arab unrest in the oil-rich province
earlier thIs year.
- Fightingin the Kàrdish region In re-
cent days has been limited to night 1kb '
i Sb n . The Unimleb Army spokesman
said guerrillas attacked a military food
truck early yesterday near thi, border
town of Piranshnhr, killing one soldier.
Kurdish so rces said people wer e yac-
nating Plraishahr and heading for the
Iraqi border for fear of an Imminent gov-
ernment attack. ‘
Kurdish sources said Air Force Phae-
tom.jets dropped two bombs near Báneb 1
but this could not be confirmed. Itwas the
first —. of,Plthntoms bombing —
held areasof the Kurdlshreglon,..
Iranian forces reported 5 miles from Kurd capital
The Sun (1837-1985); Aut 31, 1979; ProQuestHistoricalNewspapers: Baltimore Son, The (1837-198 6)
p . A2
Jranian forces reported
5- miles from
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