Dissident Iranian cleric condemns assassination of
Iranian general
TEHRAN, April 12 (AFP) - Leading Iranian dissident Ayatollah Hossein-Ali
Montazeri on Monday denounced the assassination of a top general in an
attack claimed by the Iraq-based opposition People's Mujahedeen.
"This assassination, committed by those who have failed on the
political scene, is a severe blow to the loyal Iranian army", Montazeri
said in a statement.
The killing of Brigadier General Ali Sayad Shirazi was an attempt to
"create a violent political climate in order to inhibit the opening
of Iranian politics," he said.
Shirazi was slain outside his Tehran home on Saturday in an attack
claimed by the Mujahedeen. His funeral Monday was attended by top officials
from the Iranian regime, inclduing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Montazeri, who has been under police surveillance for years, was once
tipped as successor to become the nation's next supreme leader after Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic republic.
But his liberal views alienated him from the regime and after Khomeini's
death he was passed over in favour of Khamenei.
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