President gets first taste of tear-gas

Press, 17 November 1977, Page 8

President gets first taste of tear-gas

NZPA-Reuter Washington j President Carter got his ; first taste of tear-gas on ! Tuesday as the police i struggled to control a violent protest between rival i groups when the Shah of Iran arrived in Washington ifor two days of talks.

Ninety-two demonstrators i and 18 policemen were hurt ' ; in the fights that broke out ( . between pro and anti-Shah [groups outside the White - , House during a welcoming ; ceremony on the White ; House lawn. ii The President later told [[reporters the tear-gas [[brought tears to his eves,.’ ['adding. “It was my first (ex- ; ]!perience of tear-gas) and Li jlhone it is mv last.” II Federal Park police said/ .[that one pro-Shah demon-j [strator was in a critical con-j >!dition with a fra'-ompd skull.; ; iThe police arrested 11 demlionstra'ors after the clash. I done of the worst since the' Vietnam War demonstra-; . tions. The talks, the first he-, » tween the two leaders, took .[place in a seme-like atm'os- , ph ere with rhe police and .[the "secret Service heavily J guarding the Shah. I This was because the > police had expected about . 18.000 people, most of them ; Iranian students, to converge; , on Washington for big dem-; z onstrations planned during; . the visit. About 3000 ac-i r tually came. Many of the anti-Shah 1,

groups, protesting what the\

called a repressive regime were hooded or masked .They said they were guard [ing against being photo[graphed by Iranian police agents. The pro-Shah group was generally older and well-dressed. Despite the demonstrations, the Shah received a [warm official welcome and a pledge of support from Pres,iden. Carter. In an exchange of toasts [at the White House dinner [for the Shah. President Carter praised the monarch as a [strong leader. 1 Mr Carter said: “Iran [seeks no dominion over [other people . it just [wants peace. We look upon Tran as a very stabilising [force ir the world at large.” The White House spokesman. Mr lod\ Powell, ['old reporters that the two I leaders discussed a wide [range of issues, including [the Middle East and oil prices. President Carter “expressed his strong hope" the [Organisations of Petroleum [Exporting Countries of [which Iran is an influential [member, would not raise oil 'prices over the coming year