Iran to return dead

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 8

Iran to return dead

NZPA-Reuter Teheran, The President also said he The Iranian President (Mr had ordered Iranian forces Abolhassan Bani-Sadr) said fighting rebels in Kurdistan yesterday that Iran would (to cease fire and defend hand back the bodies of the;themselves only if attacked. American servicemen killed He said the Iranian troops when their aircraft collided had acted defensively during on an abortive mission to the conflicts so far and rescue the Teheran embassy blamed an extreme-Left hostages — without impos- group, Koaleh, for seeking ing any conditions on the confrontation. United States. There was no immediate

Mr Bani-Sadr told a press conference that no more members of the American rescue squad were still in Iran. confirming United States statements that all had been evacuated.

indication of the effect of! the President’s order, and reports earlier said fighting was continuing in the Kurdistan provincial capital, Sanandaj. and several other iKurdish towns.

' Mr Bani-Sadr told the conference that the Government wanted to avoid confrontations with the Kurds, and preferred to swing public opinion in the Kurdish region against the guerrilla groups. The Kurdish Society in Teheran said that the army was still shelling Sanandaj early vesterday and that in i the ’ bombardment 11 residents had been killed and 74 injured. It said there had also been clashes in the towns of Saqqez, Marivan, 'and Baneh.