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| Identifier: | 90BAGHDAD1068 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 90BAGHDAD1068 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Baghdad |
| Created: | 1990-02-21 11:00:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PINS IR |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
O 211100Z FEB 90 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2962 INFO GULFWAR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 01068 E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR TAGS: PINS IR SUBJ: RIOTS IN TEHRAN 1. (C-ENTIRE TEXT) 2. WESTERN AMBASSADOR HAS SHARED WITH US THE REPORT OF HIS COLLEAGUE IN TEHRAN ON THE FEBRUARY 16 RIOTS. 3. THE WESTERN EMBASSY NOTES THAT THE IRANIAN PRESS CLAIMED THAT THE RIOTS BEGAN BECAUSE A FOOTBALL GAME WAS POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER MAKING THE TURF UNSUITABLE FOR PLAY. THE EMBASSY BELIEVES THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE REAL REASON. A CROWD OF FROM TWO TO FIVE THOUSAND THREW STONES AND CARRIED PICTURES OF THE SHAH'S SON. THE PRESENCE OF THE PICTURES SUGGESTS A PRE-ARRANGED, NOT SPONTANEOUS, DEMONSTRATION, AND FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT CANCELATION OF THE FOOTBALL GAME WAS NOT BECAUSE OF A WET PITCH. FURTHER, SLOGANS WERE SHOUTED AGAINST THE REGIME AND SOME SHOTS WERE HEARD. 4. THE EMBASSY IN TEHRAN NOTES THAT THE CLAIMS OF THE MUJAHIDIN FROM BAGHDAD WERE MUCH EXAGGERATED (COMMENT: AS USUAL), BUT CLEARLY ANY DEMONSTRATION MUST WORRY THE IRANIAN REGIME. RUMORS ARE BEGINNING TO FLOOD TEHRAN, WITH COMPARISONS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLES IN 1979 RAMPANT. MORE MILITARY ACTIVITY THAN USUAL HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE CITY. GLASPIE
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