Widespread protests in Iran greet Shah’s arrival in Egypt

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 8

Widespread protests in Iran greet Shah’s arrival in Egypt

NZPA-Reuter Teheran v Demonstrations have been called throughout Iran in protest against the deposed Shah’s move to Egypt from Panama.

The Teheran Society of Militant Clergy yesterday demanded a mass march to the occupied United States embassy “to show our hate and aversion to this treacherous American plot."' ' ’ ' Revolutionary' Guards and committees and the TheologicaU Society in the holy of Qom issued similar ap'peals,. and the official Pars news agency reported calls' for demonstrations im other cities.

Iranian Government leaders I have not yet commented on; the former monarch’s jour-,' ney to Egypt, which began] one day before Iran’s law-i yers filed an extradition suit! against him, in Panama. Muslim students demanding his return to Iran, who have held about 50 American ■ hostages in the United States, embassy since November 4, have said the former Shah’s 5 departure from Panama was! of no importance to them. i They have issued no state-| ment on.the issue since his] arrival in Cairo, where he is; now in a heavily guarded: military hospital awaiting treatment for an enlarged! spleen. i

In Washington, Carter Administration officials said the United States had urged the former Iranian ruler to stay in Panama, his home since December 15, because of concern that his departure would worsen the hostage crisis.

But a lengthy commentary in a news broadcast on Iranian'State radio yesterdaydescribed the former Shah’s move as “the latest plot of the United States.” It said this would be defeated, and that the United States would eventually hand him over to Iran.

[ The radio, which does not 'necessarily reflect the views of the Government, -asked: “How could this puppet of the White House dare to disjobev the orders of (President | Jimmy) Carter and his Administration when his life or ■death depend on Carter and his friends?” The former Shah’s arrival in Egypt could be a “kindness of God,” the radio said, because it could “start. the flames of revolution in that oppressed country and save the people from living under the shadow of imperialism

land Zionism." A possible reason for the I journey to Egypt could be to protect him from an extradition suit, as Iran and Egypt had broken off relations, the radio said. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt emphasised to reporters in Cairo yesterday that the former Shah’s stay lin Egypt would be permanent. He (the Shah) previously' spent four 'days in Egypt immediately after his downfall in Iran’s Islamic revolution just over a year ago.

An official spokesman said j later that the former Shah’s ■arrival ‘emanated from Egypt’s adherence to Islamic ■principles and "in gratitude Ito tl e man who stood at the !side of our people in their legitimate struggle to liberate their land and restore their rights.” In 1973 the Shah provided Egypt with about SIOOOM in loans and credits and sent huge quantities of crude oil to offset a shortage. The former monarch left Panama the day' before Iran planned to begin extradition proceedings against him.