Bani-Sadr: plot to bomb Khomeiny, topple Govt smashed

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 8

Bani-Sadr: plot to bomb Khomeiny, topple Govt smashed

NZPA-Reuter Teheran! President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr and the Iranian Air Force chief have announced the crushing of an attempted coup involving, plans to bomb the home of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeiny in Teheran and other key locations in the, capital and in the holy city; of Oom. The President gave only a general account of the alleged conspiracy in a latenight television appearance. However, the commander of the Air Force, Colonel Jawad Fakouri, who appeared with him, said that “America, with the co-oper-ation of Israel and Iraq” assisted by some Iranian servicemen, was inx jived in the plot. The President said it was the sixth plot against the i Iranian revolution, and he: I knew of a seventh. I’ Teheran Radio introduced ! a news item on the alleged : plot by saying: “Once more,!! for the second time, Ameri-ll can imperialism has been! broken.” |l The conspirators aimed toll capture the Air Force gar-q

rison at Hor. in Hamadan province, south-west of Teheran, and use it as a headquarters for the former Shah’s last Prime Minister. Shapour Baktiar, who now lives in exile in Paris. In addition to the Teheran home of Ayatollah Khomeiny, the points targeted for bombing, according

to Colonel Fakouri and a Revolutionary Guard spokesman who also appeared before the cameras, included the office of the President, a Revolutionary Guard headquarters in Teheran. Army stores in the capital, and the Feizieg theological school in Qom, one of Iran’s main religious seminaries. President Bani-Sadr, who described the plot as a serious one, said some of the military men involved had been arrested. Details of the conspiracy were known a month ago and arrests were made in the last 24 hours when it was clear that the coup was imminent.

A statement issued later by the ruling Revolutionary Council said some of the 'conspirators had been killed, but gave no details or numbers. It said one Revolutionary Guard was also killed, i Meanwhile. Iran’s official Pars news agency has reported that eight Iraqi aircraft attacked a border area in north-western Iran on Thursday killing two people and injuring nine.