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ROME- Thousands of protestors, mostly Iranians living in exile, demonstrated in Rome Tuesday against the visit of President Mohammad Khatami.
In Rome organizers said up to 5,000 people had responded to appeals by the people's mujahedeen (NRC) and Italian right-wing opposition parties Forza Italia and the National Alliance to demonstrate against the visit by Khatami, the first abroad by an Iranian head of state since the Islamic revolution in 1979.
Many protestors were women wearing headscarves who
carried portraits of Massud Radjavi, elected the NRC Iranian president-in-exile,
and his wife Maryam.
Despite Khatami's Overtures Towards West, Italy and US Maintain Concern, Reuters, March 9
ROME - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami arrived in Rome on Tuesday at the start of a three-day state visit to Italy and the Vatican, seen as opening a new epoch in relations between the Islamic state and the West.
Khatami's Boeing 707 aircraft landed at Ciampino military airport from Tehran, bringing the first Iranian president to visit Western Europe since the fall of the Shah in 1979.
But both Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema and Dini, who held talks with U.S. President Bill Clinton four days ago, have said they will stress Italy's reservations over Iran's human rights record and urge Khatami to adopt non-proliferation policies.
While Washington has slightly softened its line towards Iran, it still accuses the country of supporting terrorism and seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
But while Khatami and his entourage were being feted at a lunch at the presidential palace, less than a kilometre (half a mile) away near the ruins of ancient Rome, thousands of Iranian opposition supporters gathered to protest against the visit.
One organizer, Ali Reza, said about 5,000 Iranians and their supporters has assembled and he had heard that sympathizers from Germany and Britain had been delayed by police at Rome airport.
Iranians opposed to Khatami say little has changed
since he won power 21 months ago, alleging that more than 300 people have
been publicly executed and 18 dissidents assassinated abroad.
Eight Members of Parliament Address the Demonstration Against Khatami's Visit to Italy, Iran Zamin News Agency, March 9
Over 5,000 Iranians staged an elaborate demonstration on Tuesday, March 9, in Rome to condemn the visit of Khatami to Italy.
Parliamentary deputies Ms. Cristina Matranga and Mr. Marco Taradash, from the Forza Italia Party; Mr. Giulio Savelli, from the UDR Party; deputies Nicolini and Torrone, as well as Ms. Miranda Martino, the famous Italian singer; and Dr. Antonio Stango, President of the Helsinki Watch, Italy, addressed the gathering.
A number of political dignitaries from other countries, including Mr. Lennart Friden, member of the Swedish Parliament, also took part and addressed the demonstration and expressed their protest to Khatami’s trip to Italy.
Speakers stressed that Khatami's trip to Italy does not in any way contribute to improving the situation of human rights in Iran. One speaker said progress toward democracy is only possible with the victory of the Iranian Resistance.
In a message to the rally, Mr. Massoud Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, lauded the demonstrators and said similar to the demonstrations of our compatriots in Lyon, France (June 1998) and New York, U.S.A. (September 1998), the protest today is a manifestation of the Iranian people’s repugnance toward the dictatorship ruling Iran and their resolve to overthrow this regime and all its factions.
In the past weeks, a majority of deputies in the Italian Parliament, many Senators, dozens of Italian syndicates, associations and human rights organizations, as well as tens of thousands of Italian citizens expressed their protest to Khatami’s trip to that country.