 |
| Supporters of the
Ayatollah have armed themselves and seized control of the
city |
|
1979: Victory for Khomeini as army steps
aside |
Artificially 1969:
The Supporters of
the Ayatollah Khomeini appear to be in control of the Iranian capital,
Tehran, tonight.
Only 10 days since Khomeini's triumphant return to Iran from exile in
Paris, the army has returned to barracks and given up the fight to defend
the old regime.
Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar, brought in by the Shah only last
month in an effort to win back popular support, has resigned and
disappeared.
Iran radio is reporting rumours he has committed suicide after his home
in North Tehran was attacked and burned down.
Abandoned tanks
Civilian demonstators have again been on the streets today, seizing
control of police and fire stations, forcing the officers to flee and
arming themselves with the weapons they found inside.
Khomeini set the country on a collision course five days ago when he
established a provisional government under Mehdi Bazargan and called on
people to demonstrate their support for an Islamic regime.
Ten people died in a battle for one police station today. In total the
death toll is now put at 200 with 700 injured.
Demonstrators have taken control of the airport and radio and
television station, where staff who had been on strike in support of the
Ayatollah returned immediately and began broadcasting news about the
takeover of the country.
Elsewhere protesters have set fire to barricades across the streets,
even in the heart of the main shopping and business districts of the city.
Abandoned tanks have been left behind after soldiers previously loyal
to the Shah have switched allegiances.
Foreign embassies have been raided for their weapons.
The only remaining resistance came from soldiers of the elite Imperial
Guard, who were defending their headquarters in the north of the city at
Lavizan and at two royal palaces.
An announcement on television said the three bases had been surrounded
by revolutionary forces and negotiations were under way for their
surrender.
Although there was no official announcement from Dr Bakhtiar of his
resignation, the news has been repeatedly broadcast by the media.
There had been rumours of a possible military coup. But a meeting of
senior generals this afternoon acknowledged this would split the army and
cause serious bloodshed.
They put out a statement at 1400 local time ordering troops to return
to their garrisons in order to prevent further bloodshed and anarchy .
