DATE=2/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245302
TITLE=IRAN / INTELLIGENCE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS IN IRAN REPORT THE COUNTRY'S
INTELLIGENCE MINISTER HAS RESIGNED. RICHARD ENGEL IN CAIRO
REPORTS THE IRANIAN OFFICIAL HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE OF HIS
MINISTRY'S CONNECTION TO THE MURDER OF IRANIAN DISSIDENTS AND
WRITERS LAST YEAR.
TEXT: TWO IRANIAN NEWSPAPERS, INCLUDING ONE OWNED BY THE
GOVERNMENT, REPORT IRAN'S PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI HAS ACCEPTED
THE RESIGNATION OF THE NATION'S INTELLIGENCE CHIEF, QORBANALI
DORI-NAJAFABADI.
THE RESIGNATION OF MR. DORI-NAJAFABADI COMES ONLY FOUR WEEKS
AFTER THE INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY ADMITTED THAT A FEW OF WHAT IT
CALLED ITS ROGUE AGENTS WERE INVOLVED IN A STRING OF MURDERS THAT
BEGAN IN NOVEMBER.
THE NEWSPAPERS ALSO QUOTED INFORMED SOURCES AS SAYING IRAN'S
CHIEF MILITARY PROSECUTOR, ALI YUNESI, IS EXPECTED TO BE THE NEW
INTELLIGENCE MINISTER. MR. YUNESI HEADS A PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE
INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS OF THE FOUR DISSIDENTS AND
INTELLECTUALS.
MODERATES CLOSE TO PRESIDENT KHATAMI HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A
PURGE OF THE INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY AND THE REMOVAL OF MR.
DORI-NAJAFABADI. THE MINISTRY IS DOMINATED BY CONSERVATIVE
HARDLINERS WHO OPPOSE THE REFORMIST POLICY SUPPORTED BY PRESIDENT
KHATAMI.
THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTELLIGENCE MINISTER IS LIKELY TO BE
VIEWED AS A VICTORY FOR IRANIAN MODERATES WHO HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN
A POWER STRUGGLE WITH CONSERVATIVE HARDLINERS SINCE PRESIDENT
KHATAMI WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/JWH/KL
09-Feb-99 6:50 AM EST (1150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
