DATE=4/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247879
TITLE=IRAN/ASSASSINATION (S ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE IRANIAN ARMED FORCES REPORT THAT A SENIOR MILITARY
OFFICIAL WAS ASSASSINATED SATURDAY. RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM
OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT THE MURDER IS LATEST IN A
STRING OF ATTACKS AGAINST IRANIAN OFFICIALS IN RECENT MONTHS.
TEXT: THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF IRAN'S ARMED FORCES,
BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALI SAYID SHIRAZI, WAS KILLED AS HE LEFT HIS
HOME SATURDAY MORNING.
IRANIAN RADIO SAID MR. SHIRAZI WAS GUNNED DOWN BY A SINGLE
ASSAILANT.
IRAN'S MAIN ARMED REBEL GROUP, THE PEOPLE'S MUJAHIDEEN, HAS
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ASSASSINATION. THE GROUP, WHICH
IS BASED IN IRAQ, SAYS MR. SHIRAZI WAS KILLED BECAUSE HE
ALLEGEDLY EXECUTED OPPOSITION FIGURES AND MILITARY PERSONNEL
DURING WHAT THE GROUP CALLED THE UNPATRIOTIC WAR AGAINST IRAQ.
MR. SHIRAZI LED SEVERAL OF IRAN'S MAJOR OFFENSIVES IN THE
NATION'S EIGHT-YEAR WAR WITH IRAQ.
MR. SHIRAZI IS THE LATEST IRANIAN OFFICIAL TO FALL VICTIM TO
VIOLENCE IN RECENT MONTHS. IN AUGUST, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF
IRAN'S PRISON SYSTEM WAS ASSASSINATED. THE PEOPLE'S MUJAHIDEEN
ALSO CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT ATTACK. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/DW/GE
10-Apr-99 8:12 AM EDT (1212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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