WORLD : Irani Millions Mark Revolution
Chanting slogans against the United States and Israel, millions of Iranians packed Tehran’s Azaqi Square today to mark the 12th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Tehran radio reported.
The broadcast, monitored in Cyprus, said the crowds included disabled war veterans of the 1980-88 war with Iraq and women cloaked in black veils.
President Hashemi Rafsanjani congratulated them on the anniversary of the revolution, which overthrew the pro-Western Iranian monarchy on Feb. 11, 1979, and replaced it with the religiously conservative Islamic Republic.
The Iraqi News Agency, also monitored in Nicosia, said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein sent a message to Rafsanjani to congratulate him on “Iran’s national day.” It was the first time Hussein has congratulated Iran on the occasion.
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