DATE=4/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247688
TITLE= IRAQ EXECUTIONS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ SAYS IT HAS EXECUTED FOUR MEN WHO 
IT SAYS ASSASSINATED THE COUNTRY'S SENIOR SHI'ITE LEADER AND HIS 
TWO SONS, TWO MONTHS AGO. V-O-A'S SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM CAIRO 
THAT THE MURDERS ARE SAID TO HAVE SPARKED SEVERAL DAYS OF UNREST 
IN THE PREDOMINANTLY SHI'ITE COUNTRY.

TEXT:  THE OFFICIAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THE FOUR 
MEN WERE HANGED UNTIL DEAD AFTER BEING CONVICTED BY WHAT IT 
CALLED A SPECIALIZED COURT.

THE FOUR MEN WERE SHOWN LAST MONTH ON IRAQI TELEVISION CONFESSING
TO THE MURDER OF AYATOLLAH MOHAMMED SADEQ AL-SADR AND HIS TWO 
SONS. 

THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE EXECUTIONS HAVE UPROOTED WHAT IT 
CALLED THE TOOLS OF DISORDER, WHICH IT SAYS WERE AIMED AT HURTING
THE IRAQI PEOPLE. 

OPPOSITION GROUPS SAY THE MURDERS LAST FEBRUARY IN THE SOUTHERN 
IRAQI CITY OF NAJAF CAUSED POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS IN BAGHDAD AND 
SEVERAL SOUTHERN IRAQI CITIES. THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DENIES THE 
REPORTS.

AYATOLLAH AL-SADR WAS THE THIRD SENIOR SHI'ITE CLERIC TO BE 
KILLED IN IRAQ IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. IRAQ SAYS IT EXECUTED LAST 
MONTH SEVERAL MEN FOUND GUILTY OF THE FIRST TWO MURDERS.

THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND SHI'ITE LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION 
BLAME THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR THE ASSASSINATIONS, SAYING IT IS 
PERSECUTING SHI'ITE LEADERS WHO ARE SEEN AS A SOURCE OF 
OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME. IRAQ BLAMES THE MURDERS ON FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENTS, WHICH IT ACCUSES OF SEEKING TO DIVIDE THE IRAQI 
PEOPLE.

THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR FOR IRAQ, MAX VAN DER STOEL, 
SAID LAST WEEK THAT, GIVEN IRAQ'S POWERFUL SECURITY APPARATUS, IT
WAS UNLIKELY THAT THE MURDERS COULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT WITHOUT
THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROVAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/PCF

06-Apr-99 11:14 AM EDT (1514 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.