UNITED KINGDOM: SEPARATE DEMONSTRATIONS HELD IN LONDON OUTSIDE THE SOVIET AND IRANIAN EMBASSIES TO CALL FOR THE DOWNFALL OF THE GOVERNMENTS IN KABUL AND TEHERAN

Record ID: 1046588

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: SEPARATE DEMONSTRATIONS HELD IN LONDON OUTSIDE THE SOVIET AND IRANIAN EMBASSIES TO CALL FOR THE DOWNFALL OF THE GOVERNMENTS IN KABUL AND TEHERAN
  • Date: 4th January 1981
  • Summary: 1. GV Demonstrators in London marching behind police vehicle, carrying banners condemning the Soviet Union 0.30 2. GV Mounted police outside Soviet embassy as demonstrators march past chanting slogans (2 shots) 1.12 3. GV Demonstrators outside Iranian Embassy in London showing demonstrators with anti-Khomeini placards (3 shots) 1.30 4. GV AND SV
  • Embargoed: 18th January 1981 12:00
  • Keywords:
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  • Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WM59E6LRO82KXI6DZA7VMM4E
  • Story Text:INTRODUCTION: Afghan rebel supporters marched on the Soviet consulate in London on Sunday (4 January) calling for an end to the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Police prevented the demonstrators from delivering a protest note, but they chanted slogans against the Soviet backed regime in Kabul and said protests in the West were ineffective unless backed by a sustained guerrilla operation inside Afghanistan. London also saw a second demonstration on Sunday, outside the Iranian embassy. Organised by the Iranian Liberation Army the protesters called for the downfall of Iran's religious leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

    SYNOPSIS: Several hundred demonstrators took their message to the Soviet Consulate in London. They held banners condemning the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and others in support of rebels fighting the guerrillas war inside the Afghan President Babrak Karmal that the rebels had been liquidated, much of the countryside is still reportedly in rebel hands.

    The demonstrators said public protests in the West were helpful, but were unlikely to be effective unless supported by sustained guerrilla warfare inside Afghanistan. On New Year's Eve an Islamic court of Afghan guerrillas sentenced a captured Soviet General to death. The Pakistani newspaper, Jung reported the General as saying he was sorry to be fighting a losing battle and that it would be impossible to crush the insurgents because of Afghanistan's mountainous terrain. The demonstrators tried to deliver a protest note at the Consulate but police stopped them.

    The Iranian Embassy on the same day attracted a crowd of demonstrators calling for the overthrow of Iran's religious leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. Police mounted a strong guard on the Embassy and prevented protesters from getting near the entrance.

    The demonstration was reportedly organised by the Iranian Liberation Army.
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