DATE=1/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243866
TITLE=IRAN / U-S REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS WELCOMED THE ARREST OF SEVERAL
IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A STRING OF
RECENT POLITICAL KILLINGS IN THAT COUNTRY. FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.
TEXT: SINCE THE RECENT SPATE OF KILLINGS BEGAN LATE LAST YEAR,
THE UNITED STATES HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED ON IRANIAN AUTHORITIES TO
ARREST THOSE RESPONSIBLE.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN WELCOMED THE NEWS OF THE
RECENT ARRESTS AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
// RUBIN ACT //
THE ARRESTS ARE A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS MAINTAINING THE
RULE OF LAW IN IRAN, AND PROVIDING FOR THE SECURITY OF
IRANIANS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.
// END ACT //
ON TUESDAY, THE IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY ANNOUNCED WITH
REGRET THAT SEVERAL OF ITS AGENTS HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
SLAYING OF SEVERAL PROMINENT DISSIDENTS AND WRITERS.
THE AGENCY DID NOT IDENTIFY THOSE ARRESTED OR SAY HOW MANY HAD
BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, BUT CALLED THEM MISGUIDED TRAITORS AND
CONDEMNED THEIR ACTIONS.
SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS CALL THE ADMISSION A GREAT STEP FORWARD
FOR THE COUNTRY AND A FAVORABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR IRAN'S PRESIDENT
MOHAMMED KHATAMI, WHO HAD ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE
KILLINGS.
THE ARRESTS HAVE AGAIN RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IRANIAN
GOVERNMENT AGENTS MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF OTHER
OPPONENTS SINCE THE 1979 REVOLUTION.
GERMAN OFFICIALS HAVE ALLEGED IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WERE
WAS BEHIND THE 1992 MURDER OF SEVERAL DISSIDENTS IN A BERLIN
RESTAURANT. IRAN HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS.(SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/PT
06-Jan-99 5:21 PM EST (2221 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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