DATE=4/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247688
TITLE= IRAQ EXECUTIONS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ SAYS IT HAS EXECUTED FOUR MEN WHO
IT SAYS ASSASSINATED THE COUNTRY'S SENIOR SHI'ITE LEADER AND HIS
TWO SONS, TWO MONTHS AGO. V-O-A'S SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM CAIRO
THAT THE MURDERS ARE SAID TO HAVE SPARKED SEVERAL DAYS OF UNREST
IN THE PREDOMINANTLY SHI'ITE COUNTRY.
TEXT: THE OFFICIAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THE FOUR
MEN WERE HANGED UNTIL DEAD AFTER BEING CONVICTED BY WHAT IT
CALLED A SPECIALIZED COURT.
THE FOUR MEN WERE SHOWN LAST MONTH ON IRAQI TELEVISION CONFESSING
TO THE MURDER OF AYATOLLAH MOHAMMED SADEQ AL-SADR AND HIS TWO
SONS.
THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE EXECUTIONS HAVE UPROOTED WHAT IT
CALLED THE TOOLS OF DISORDER, WHICH IT SAYS WERE AIMED AT HURTING
THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
OPPOSITION GROUPS SAY THE MURDERS LAST FEBRUARY IN THE SOUTHERN
IRAQI CITY OF NAJAF CAUSED POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS IN BAGHDAD AND
SEVERAL SOUTHERN IRAQI CITIES. THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DENIES THE
REPORTS.
AYATOLLAH AL-SADR WAS THE THIRD SENIOR SHI'ITE CLERIC TO BE
KILLED IN IRAQ IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. IRAQ SAYS IT EXECUTED LAST
MONTH SEVERAL MEN FOUND GUILTY OF THE FIRST TWO MURDERS.
THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND SHI'ITE LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION
BLAME THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR THE ASSASSINATIONS, SAYING IT IS
PERSECUTING SHI'ITE LEADERS WHO ARE SEEN AS A SOURCE OF
OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME. IRAQ BLAMES THE MURDERS ON FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS, WHICH IT ACCUSES OF SEEKING TO DIVIDE THE IRAQI
PEOPLE.
THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR FOR IRAQ, MAX VAN DER STOEL,
SAID LAST WEEK THAT, GIVEN IRAQ'S POWERFUL SECURITY APPARATUS, IT
WAS UNLIKELY THAT THE MURDERS COULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT WITHOUT
THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROVAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PCF
06-Apr-99 11:14 AM EDT (1514 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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