The World - News from Oct. 16, 1988

Iran said it has taken in thousands of Kurdish refugees fleeing Iraq but that accepting more would be a problem. “Due to early cold weather in the western border regions, the arrival of fresh groups of Kurds will be difficult and dangerous,” Iran’s official news agency quoted Alireza Moayeri, deputy prime minister, as saying. A Turkish official earlier said that Iran had closed its border with Turkey to prevent any more crossings by Kurdish refugees, who fled an Iraqi army offensive. Kurdish rebels, who are seeking autonomy for their region within Iraq, sided with Iran during the eight-year Persian Gulf War.