The World - News from Dec. 29, 1987

Eight Iranians who had threatened suicide if Yugoslavia deported them were dragged kicking and screaming onto a plane bound for Dubai on the Persian Gulf, witnesses said. The eight had arrived in Belgrade from Dubai en route to Canada last week but were not allowed to continue their journey after admitting their Canadian visas were false. One of the Iranians tried to cut his wrists with broken glass but was subdued by police, witnesses said. A spokesman said the four men in the group fled Iran for fear of being drafted to fight Iraq and that all faced death if sent back to Tehran. A U.N. official said the group lacked refugee status.