DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236984
TITLE=BOMBINGS--IRAN ENVOYS (S ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL HAS DENIED ALLEGATIONS IN
A WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER THAT IRAN WITHDREW ITS AMBASSADORS TO 
KENYA AND TANZANIA LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BOMB ATTACKS ON
AMERICAN EMBASSIES.  THE ALLEGATION, BY AN IRANIAN RESISTANCE 
GROUP, WAS PRINTED IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES' WEDNESDAY EDITION.  
V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT:  STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMEN HAD BEEN ASKED ABOUT POSSIBLE 
IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT AT A NEWS BRIEFING ON TUESDAY, BUT REFUSED 
COMMENT ON THE ON-GOING BOMB ATTACK INVESTIGATION.

BUT A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL NOW SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS, OF THE 
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN, REPORTED BY THE NEWSPAPER
ARE APPARENTLY UNTRUE.

THE OFFICIAL SAID A TELEPHONE CALL TO THE TANZANIAN FOREIGN 
MINISTRY REVEALED THAT, BY CHANCE, IRAN'S AMBASSADOR TO DAR ES 
SALAAM WAS IN THE MINISTRY AT THE VERY TIME OF THE CALL AND HAD 
BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT 
OFFICIAL SAID THE UNITED STATES WAS TOLD THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR 
HAD DELIVERED A NOTE CONDEMNING THE BOMBINGS.

THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO KENYA HAS NOT YET 
BEEN SIMILARLY VERIFIED, BUT THE U-S OFFICIAL SAID SHOOTING DOWN 
(REFUTING) ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS LARGELY SHOOTS DOWN 
BOTH.(SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/JO

12-Aug-98 4:41 PM EDT (2041 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.