‘Bulgaria Is Guilty,’ Agca Tells Court

Shouting “Bulgaria is guilty,” convicted would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Agca testified in court today that the Bulgarian government conspired with him to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981.

Agca, 27, the star witness for the prosecution in the trial of seven others accused in the shooting, at first refused to confirm details of Bulgaria’s alleged role in the conspiracy, saying, “I have been threatened by the Soviet and Bulgarian secret services.”

At one point in the hearing, Agca also repeated his earlier claim to be Jesus Christ, but Judge Severino Santiapichi cut him short by ordering a brief recess.

After the recess, however, Agca returned to the witness stand and announced in a loud voice, “I confirm everything with a tranquil conscience. Bulgaria is guilty!”

The dramatic scene came at the end of today’s session, during which Agca was interrogated for the third straight day. The trial adjourned until Tuesday.

Agca Document Quoted

The case against four other Turks and three Bulgarians accused of plotting with Agca to kill the Pope in St. Peter’s Square May 31, 1981, depends largely on Agca’s testimony.

Earlier today, the court read a document found in Agca’s pocket when he was arrested, in which Agca explained his “personal motive” for shooting the Pope.

In it, Agca said his intention was to “protest the killing of thousands of innocents slaughtered by murderous dictatorships or by Soviet-American imperialism in different parts of the world, from El Salvador to Afghanistan.”

Agca also charged that the Vatican and the Bulgarian government had reached an “agreement” about the trial. He referred to an audience the Pope had with a Bulgarian delegation, including Vice President Georghi Dzagorov, on May 24, three days before the trial started.