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Missile attacks hit capital cities of Iran, Iraq

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, May 3, 2000

NICOSIA [MENL] -- The capitals of Iran and Iraq have come under attack and each has blamed the other.

On late Monday, eight Iraqis were injured in a missile barrage on Baghdad. Witnesses said the attack was on a Palestinian neighborhood in the Iraqi capital.

Iraqi officials immediately blamed Iran for the attack. Hours earlier, Teheran was rocked by shelling from opposition forces in the second attack in nearly as many months.

Iranian officials said six mortar shells exploded near a sports complex in Vanak Square in northern Teheran on Monday evening. The attack was near a police headquarters.

Iranian officials said six mortar shells exploded near a sports complex in Vanak Square in northern Teheran on Monday evening. The attack was near a police headquarters.

At first, the officials Islamic Republic News Agency reported explosions in Teheran at about 7:45 p.m. local time.

But witnesses said other mortar shells struck the police headquarters. They said six people were injured, one of them critically.

The opposition Mujahadeen Khalq claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the police headquarters was the target. The Baghdad-based group took responsibility for a similar attack six weeks ago in Teheran.

In Bahrain, the emirate's defense minister said the Gulf needs protection from Iraqi and Iranian threats. The minister told the London-based Al Hayat daily on Tuesday that Bahrain seeks to join a U.S.-sponsored regional missile defense system.

Wednesday, May 3, 2000

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