Ayatollah warns against discord

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 8

Ayatollah warns against discord

NZPA Beirut Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeiny yesterday warned Iran’s military of ' discord among its ranks, as Jhe country’s main opposition group reported an “uprising” in Teheran’s largest army base. “Victory may only be achieved with unity. This unity must be safeguarded at all times. If there are elements sowing discord among the military personnel, the commanders must be notified at once,” Teheran radio quoted Khomeiny as saying. He also warned military personnel not to join political parties or groups. “It is important that military personnel do not join groups or parties, even though these groups may be Islamic in nature. If they do join, the commanders must be noti-

fied and the persons in question must be sacked from the Armed Forces,” Khomeiny said.

The statements were part of Khomeiny’s message to the : miltary on “Armed. Forces Day” which was celebrated in Iran yesterday.

The radio said Iran’s Air. Force put on an air show, in Teheran complete with parachute jumps and acrobatics, and the ground forces paraded tanks seized from the Iraqis during Iran’s latest victory in the 18-month-old war with Iraq. Khomeiny’s message came as a statement from the headquarters of the Leftist Mujahedeen-e-Khalq urban guerrilla group in Paris reported an “uprising” in Teheran’s Lavizan military base.