Iranian generals shot for anti-Khomeiny plot’

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 8

Iranian generals shot for anti-Khomeiny plot’

NZPA Zurich Two Iranian Air Force generals and 10 other officers were executed after an abortive plot last December against Ayatollah RuhoUah Khomeiny and other revolutionary leaders, the “Neue Zurcher Zeitung” newspaper has reported. The respected. newspaper’s leading specialist on Middle East affairs, Arnold Hottinger, said new purges in the Iranian armed forces, which promise: to be more energetic than f all previous ones, appear to be linked to the discovery of the plot. The newspaper said recent? demonstrations, in-

eluding sit-ins by Army members in Teheran University and by members of the Air Force in a Teheran mosque, were assumed to be protests against the purges. • , The newspaper said the plot reportedly called for the assassination of Ayatollah Montazeri of Teheran during his, Friday. ser- ; mon, .bombing of the holy , city ,of Qom to eliminate Khomeiny. and the Revolutionary Council, and executions of leading politicians. ■ , , The report said the trial and the executions of the supposed plotters were kept secret, but it was learned that there were 50 arrests and a dozen execu-

tions, including two Air Force generals. The repot said Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali, the former chief prosecutor who sent hundreds of persons before firing squads, last year, was now head- ' ing the supreme military - tribunal and directing the purges. It said that officially, the ' purges . were meant - to ■- eliminate soldiers who had collaborated with the Shah, but many soldiers and officers were convinced the actual targets were progressive, Leftwing elements as well. This explained, it said, why the public protests were backed by Leftist groups.