DATE=6/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250415
TITLE=IRAQ OPPOSITION ATTACK (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:FOUR MEMBERS OF AN EXILED IRANIAN OPPOSITION GROUP BASED IN
IRAQ HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED IN A POWERFUL BOMB EXPLOSION. A
SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUJAHEDIN KHALQ SAYS 23 OTHER MEMBERS WERE
WOUNDED. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU
IN CAIRO.
TEXT: A SPOKESMAN SAID A BOMB-LOADED (PICK-UP) TRUCK EXPLODED
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AS A BUS CARRYING THE MUJAHIDEEN MEMBERS
PASSED BY IN A NORTHERN SUBURB OF THE IRAQI CAPITAL. THE BLAST
REPORTEDLY CREATED A LARGE CRATER IN THE STREET.
THE WOUNDED, SOME OF THEM SERIOUSLY INJURED, WERE TAKEN TO A
NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE BUS REPORTEDLY WAS ON ITS WAY TO A
MUJAHIDEEN BASE NORTH OF BAGHDAD.
THE SPOKESMAN BLAMED THE ATTACK ON THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND
SAID THE IRANIAN EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD HELPED PLAN THE OPERATION.
TWO BOMBS REPORTEDLY EXPLODED LAST SATURDAY NEAR THE MUJAHIDEEN
HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD, WOUNDING SOME PEOPLE PASSING BY.
THE MUJAHEDIN IS WAGING AN ARMED STRUGGLE TO OVERTHROW THE
IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND HAS BEEN STAGING CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS ON
IRANIAN TARGETS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. IN ADDITION, IT HAS
ASSASSINATED A NUMBER OF IRANIAN OFFICIALS IN IRAN. IT CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MURDER LAST APRIL OF THE DEPUTY-CHIEF OF
IRAN'S ARMED FORCES AND AN ATTACK LAST YEAR ON A FORMER
PROSECUTOR.
IN RETURN, MUJAHEDIN GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED IN IRAQ DOZENS
OF TIMES SINCE THEY MOVED THEIR BASE THERE IN THE 1980S. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE
09-Jun-99 8:28 AM EDT (1228 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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