Iraq ‘to back exiles’

Press, 26 September 1980, Page 6

Iraq ‘to back exiles’

NZPA. ;; . Washington Iraq intends to recognise an Iranian exile coalition led bv the former Prime Minister, Shapur Baktiar, and General Gholam Oveissi as the provisional government of Iran, according to reliable Iranian opposition sources in the West bent on overturning Ayatollah Khomeiny’s regime.

The knowledgeable exile sources said that prominent Iranian anti-Khomeiny ayatollahs in Iraq and within Iran also intend to denounce Ayatollah Khomeiny and urge the Shi’ite Islamic

people of Iran : to renounce their' allegiance to him.' Iraqi officials in Washington declined to comment on the report. For the last several months, however, Iraq has permitted both Mr Baktiar and General Oveissi to broadcast daily messages into Iran from radio transmitters in the Iraqi capital of Bagdad. Iraq has been helping Iranian exiled leaders and theirf military followers in their bid to regain control of Iran, the exiles have claimed. Iraqis have since last spring (northern) assist-

ed Kurdish tribesmen who have been fighting, with the blessings of Mr Baktiar and General Oveissi, against Iranian forces. Other Iranian exile sources reported that Iranian officers and men who deserted to escape Ayatollah Khomeiny’s frequent military purges are gathering throughout the West to invade Iran under the direction of General Oveissi and other exiled generals. “We are just waiting for the call. We expect it to come soon,” a former Iranian Air Force squadron commander said.