Iran thanks U.K. for embassy action

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 8

Iran thanks U.K. for embassy action

NZPA-Reuter Teheran Iran has thanked Britain for efficiency in ending the six-day occupation of the Iranian Embassy in London. ■ President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr said in a telegram; to the British Prime Minister (Mrs Margaret Thatcher) early, yesterday: “I should like to express my gratitude for the persevering action of your police force . . . during the unjust hostage-taking, event at the Iranian Embas-I sy.” ■ 1 The phrasing of the mes-i sage appeared aimed at precluding any comparison between the London siege and the six-month-old occupation of the United States Embassy in Teheran. The Iranian Foreign Minister -(Mr Sadeq Qotbzadeh) also thanked the British authorities for defeatitig the five London embassy gunmen, three of whom were killed when a British commando unit stormed the building.

Mr Qotbzadeh said in a statement: “The manner and speed of action of the British police in this operation is appreciated and the Iranian consulate in London has been instructed t<? thank the i British police formally.” The I consulate is in a separate building some distance from the embassy. President Bani-Sadr also praised the courage of the Iranian diplomats held since last Thursday by the gunmen. who said they were Iranian Arabs and demanded the release of 91 prisoners from Iranian jails in the southern province of Khuzestan. “The brave resistance of your children in the Iranian Embassy in London has borne its sweet fruit,” he said in a broadcast to the Iranian nation shortly after the siege was ended. The United States said that the fiery end to the seizure of the Embassy in London was a sharp reminder that the international community abhorred terror-

ism directed at diplomats of any country. A statement issued by the State Department also included a fresh warning to the Government of Iran about the safety of 50 Americans held hostage there since November 4. “The culmination of the incident at the Iranian Embassy in London today is a sharp reminder of the abhorrence felt by the international community for terrorist acts against diplomats of any nation,” the statement said. "The United States regrets the death of an Iranian hostage stemming from this act of international terrorism. “This incident also underlines the deep concern felt by the American people and the American Government for the Americans held hostage in Iran. “The United States Government emphasises once again that it holds the Government of Iran responsible for the safety and wellbeing of those Americans.”