DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236984
TITLE=BOMBINGS--IRAN ENVOYS (S ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL HAS DENIED ALLEGATIONS IN
A WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER THAT IRAN WITHDREW ITS AMBASSADORS TO
KENYA AND TANZANIA LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BOMB ATTACKS ON
AMERICAN EMBASSIES. THE ALLEGATION, BY AN IRANIAN RESISTANCE
GROUP, WAS PRINTED IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES' WEDNESDAY EDITION.
V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMEN HAD BEEN ASKED ABOUT POSSIBLE
IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT AT A NEWS BRIEFING ON TUESDAY, BUT REFUSED
COMMENT ON THE ON-GOING BOMB ATTACK INVESTIGATION.
BUT A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL NOW SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS, OF THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN, REPORTED BY THE NEWSPAPER
ARE APPARENTLY UNTRUE.
THE OFFICIAL SAID A TELEPHONE CALL TO THE TANZANIAN FOREIGN
MINISTRY REVEALED THAT, BY CHANCE, IRAN'S AMBASSADOR TO DAR ES
SALAAM WAS IN THE MINISTRY AT THE VERY TIME OF THE CALL AND HAD
BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE ENTIRE TIME. THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OFFICIAL SAID THE UNITED STATES WAS TOLD THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR
HAD DELIVERED A NOTE CONDEMNING THE BOMBINGS.
THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO KENYA HAS NOT YET
BEEN SIMILARLY VERIFIED, BUT THE U-S OFFICIAL SAID SHOOTING DOWN
(REFUTING) ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS LARGELY SHOOTS DOWN
BOTH.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/JO
12-Aug-98 4:41 PM EDT (2041 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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