Khomeini gives Libyans cool reception in Iran

          
          5/27/2011 Article - Untitled Article
          Publication: Guardian 1821-2000; Date:Apr26, 1979; Section: None; Page: 7
          Khomeini gives Libyans
          cool reception in Iran
          From Liz Thurgood
          in Tehran
          Iran's religious leaders are
          ke pW a low profile about the
          arrival here of a large Libyan
          delegation, in the hope of dis-
          covering the whereabouts of
          the missing Imam Mossssa
          Sadr,
          The delegation of 70 men,
          led by the Prime Minister,
          Major Abdutlalam Jaloud, went
          to the holy city of Qons after
          arriving for talks with Ayatol-
          lah Ruhollah Khomeini But
          their reception was reportedly
          chilly and yesterday. the An-
          tollah was quoted as kiting
          the Libyans: “The problems
          can only be solved by ihe Tri-
          poli Government.”
          The Libyans are believed to
          be keen to reestablish diplo-
          matIc relations which were
          broken when the Shalt seized
          the three small islands of Aim
          Musa and the Two Tombs foi-
          lowing Britain's withdrawal
          from the Persian Guif eight
          years ago. They are also re-
          portedly trying to prepare for
          a visit by Colonei Gliadafy.
          But Iranian sources say
          there wi4l—fre-—uo meeting be-
          tween the Colonel and the
          Ayatollah until the Libyans
          explain the whereabouts of
          Imain Sadi-, who disappeared
          last September during Moslem
          celebrations. Moussa Sadr, an
          Iranian by birth, studied under
          , releI4sih Khomeini before
          travelling to the Lebanon,
          where he became a powerful
          political loader among the
          Sh?ite Moslems in Beirut.
          The Libyans say that the
          Imam left Tripoli for Rome
          after a stormy meeting with
          Colonel GhadaIy. There he dis-
          appeared. Rut the Iranians are
          holding the Llby £ Ofl
          sible. and a month ago, Ayatol-
          lah Mahmeud Taleghani, one
          of Iran's most respected rail-
          giofisieaders, said Ihat be
          believed the Imam was dead.
          Yesterday's press carried a
          small statement from Major
          Jaioud blaming ‘the big
          powers” for exaggerating the
          Mouisa Sadr affair. and so pie'
          venting the Colonel from visit-
          ing Qoin.
          Meanwhile, the Iranian
          Prime Minister. Dr Batrgww,
          has renewed his appeal for
          national unIty, and warned of
          grave dangers” if Iran's re-
          volutionaries Insist orsSring
          power with the Government. Dr
          Bazargan said that the contro-
          versial Imam committees, pro-
          fessing sincerity and
          revolutionary ideals, were “tn-
          terfering with everything,
          making it difficult to get any-
          thing done-”
          The Prime Minister said tue
          spirit of revenge was under-
          mining his programme for re-
          construction, In a reference to
          the revolutionsry Islamic
          courts which have sent nearly
          170 collaborators of the Shah's
          regime before the firing squad.
          Reuler odds: Another 24
          political prisonera have been
          released in Iran, and revolu-
          tionary tribu have passed
          11 pnsnn sentences, according
          to Tehran newspapers yester-
          day.
          One naval lieutenant was
          acquitted aftsr trial at the
          Gulf port of Bandar Abyss,
          and 23 prisoners were released
          from Tehran's main gaol. Four
          agents of the Shah's secret
          police, Savak, were among
          those who recaived prison sen-
          tences.
          Meanwhile, iran's new revo-
          lutionary Government yester-
          day decided on new pay scales
          for Government employees,
          Under the new scales, the
          minimum monthly wage in the
          civil service will be about LiSO,
          while tha Prime Minister and
          other senior officials will earn
          a maximum of £1,400.
          Nicholoa Cuniming-finice
          adds: Iran 's Kurdish Democratic
          Party tbfl insed that
          500 people had been killed in
          fighting in Kurdish areas in the
          North-west country dur-
          ing the last six dsys.
          Army tanks and armed
          groups of Turkish-speaking
          Azerhaijsnis and lalamic revo-
          lutionary guards were advanc-
          ing into Kurdish villages last
          night, bu , . .L i 5 4nd pillaging,
          the KDP claimed,
          Official radio repor ls said
          that the town of Naqhaden was
          now quiet, but the KDP spokes-
          men In Tehrsn expressed fears
          that the continuing thrust by
          the Army and other groups into
          Kurdish arens was driving the
          nut of controi. The
          KDP claimed that Army heli-
          copters opened fire on the in-
          habitants of the village of
          .Aliabad on Tuesday, killing five
          and wounding five more.
          © Guardian News and Media Limited
          Millions of Iranians lost their jobs after the revolution,
          and many a mass meeting in Tehraet yesterday
          archive.guardianco.uk/..jgetFiles.asp?. . -
          1/2
        

          
          5/27/2011 Article - Untitled Article
          archive.guardian .co.uk/. ./getFiles.asp?... 2/2