Police open fire on protesters

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 9

Police open fire on protesters

(NZPA Teheran ’ At least five people were i killed and more than 18 (wounded when the police (opened fire on teachers and (students demonstrating ’against the Government in (Hamadan, 380 km west of (Teheran, Iraniar press re- | ports have said. ( The reports said the clashes took place after the demonstrators had ignored the police warning and had begun setting fire to banks and Government buildings. The police had first used (tear-gas but had soon opened fire as the demonstrators attacked police trucks and clashed with the ti-riot squad, the press re-1 ports said. A security official disclosed at the week-end that the Shah had decided 45 days ago to release some 1160 political prisoners before his brithday on October 26. Some 600 prisoners have! been released in the past! four weeks According to official figures, fewer than 1000 political prisoners remain in jail, (seme of them convicted of assassinations. The head of the American i (Central Intelligence Agency I

i has said that the Soviet Union may be involved to (some degree in the unrest in Tran, but is not making a ; major effort to depose the (Shah. Admiral Stansfield Turner, (appearing on the C.8.5.-TV ■ programme “Face the (Nation,” said most of the trouble had been caused by conservative elements in Iran resisting the Shah’s efforts to modernise the country. “As a result however, the Left-wing small nucleus of the Communists has tried to take auvantage of this, and to use the disturbances from the Right for their own particular advantage,” he said. “I’m sure there is some Soviet influence behind it. in one degree or another, but 1 think it’r ar. opportunism taking advantage of a genuine dissent within the cc untry at the direction the Shah is going.” Asked if the Soviet Union tvas sending in money or new agents into Iran to expand the dissent, Admiral Turner, replied, “No. I haven't seen that and I’m pleased that the Shah is cotitimrng .with his liberalisation efforts.”