FIGHTING IN PERSIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 28

FIGHTING IN PERSIA

— m TEHERAN IN A STATE OF SIEGE. TEHERAN, December 16. An outbreak of fighting between the Nationalists and Royalists has occurred at Teheran, and the city is in a state of siege. The tribal cavalry and the Cossacks are parading the palace, and the • legations and consulates are guarded. The Nationalists shelter in the Sipahsalar Mosque, and the reactionaries shelter in the Gun square. The trouble is due to the Shah's refusal to expel the reactionary chiefs who are intriguing against the Cabinet. The Ministry resigned, apparently under compulsion, since three of the principal Ministers, including Nassar-el-Mulk, the Premier, were afterwards arrested at the Shah's order. Parliament was enraged, and asked the Shah the reasons for the arreste. It resolved to sit and await an answer. Prior to. this an angry mob, demanding the immediate execution of eeveral soldiers for recently murdering two shopkeepers in a street * affray, formed a procession and fired into Parliament Buildings. LONDON, December 16. The Times depicts a hopeless state of affairs among the Persians, and the docomposition of the Persian State. The ' Cossacks are no longer in M. Kosakowsky's hands, and in the blind struggle ; between the reformers and the reaction- | aries neither know how to govern. It is

■unknown whether the Cossacks will consistently take either eide. Moreover, Persia is subject to depredations by Turks, and the Sultan finds opportunity good for the prosecution of his schemes of conquest on the frontier, and unless other Powers bring him to account there is no serious obstacle in his way.