International Iran tense as both sides remain firm over form of govt

Press, 3 February 1979, Page 6

International Iran tense as both sides remain firm over form of govt

jNZPA-Reuter Iran Millions of Iranians awaited the orders of their spiritual leader today, but the Government insisted it was not going to step aside for the man who aims to set up an Islamic Republic in Iran and says the Shah’s rule is already over.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeiny, home to a hero’s welcome after 15 years in exile and regarded as a semi-saint by his most fervent supporters, has already said the Government is illeIgal and should resign or be arrested. But the Prime Minister (Dr Shapur Baktiar) left in charge when the Shah flew abroad 17 days ago, says he will ?tay in office despite the Ayatollah’s demand.

Dr Baktiar said in a telephone interview with the French television station, Europe One, that he would make every effort to ensure; “We do not go back to a dictatorship.”

The Prime Minister, who apparently still has the backing of the bulk of the Shah’s powerful armed forces, expressed the hope that since the Ayatollah's return: “Things will fall back into place.” The Ayatollah, who is 78, in a speech delivered hours after his arrival, said he would form his own Government and National Assembly.

The gaunt, dour Ayatollah, who has come to symbolise

the revolt against the Shah’s I rule, was speaking at the graveside of those killed by security forces during the last year of mounting demonstrations.

Some aides of the Ayatollah say he may announce the members of his Government today at the Islamic school which has been converted into his headquarters.

But there were also some indications that he might delay the announcement to open the way for negotiations with Dr Baktiar.

To many of the ordinary people of Iran, the return of the Ayatollah, the spiritual leader of millions of Shiite Muslims, was a guarantee for solving all the country’s ills. 1 Portraits of Ayatollah Khomeiny are on display everywhere, replacing the Once omnpresent pictures of the Shah and his family.. When the Ayatollah made his triumphant journey from the airport, the emotional welcome he ‘ received appeared to point .to, ah unstoppable march forward. The army stayed off the streets and guarded only key military and civil install-

ations such as the office of Dr Baktiar. After a year of almost daily clashes between anti-Shah demonstrators and security forces — the most recent was last week-end when about 70 people were killed — not a single bullet was reported to have been fired in the capital. But, after the tumultuous day, when perhaps more than two million people greeted the Ayatollah’s homecoming, the country was still balanced on a knife-edge between 2500 years of monarchy and a future as an Islamic republic.

Whoever wins the battle of wills between the Ayatollah and supporters of the Shah, the problems for the strategically-located nation, the world’s second-biggest oil exporter, remain immense, the economy rapidly collapsing after months of strikes.

The 300,000-strong army, believed to be - still fiercely loyaj to the Shah despite some defections, looks like being the-, arbiter of the ppwer struggle. The Shah, on his enforced holiday', waits in Morocco.