Thursday, December 27, 1979

Afghan Communist leadership

The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal, who had become president in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership. Moscow insisted that the troops came in response to a plea for help from a legitimately constituted Karmal Government. But most Western analysts say the Soviets engineered the coup as a pretext to replace Hafizullah Amin, the Afghan leader, who had lost their trust.

Source: New York Times

Sunday, November 4, 1979

TEHERAN STUDENTS SEIZE U.S. EMBASSY AND HOLD HOSTAGES

Moslem students stormed the United States Embassy in Teheran today, seized about 90 Americans and vowed to stay there until the deposed Shah was sent back from New York to face trial in Iran.

Source: New York Times

PS. The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 53 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American embassy in support of the Iranian Revolution.

More information can be found here and here.

Sunday, May 13, 1979

South Africa Measure To Curb Press Reports Of Alleged Corruption; Heavy Fines for Violation

The South African Government is preparing legislation that would make it an offense for newspapers to publish allegations of corruption or other irregularities in government activities before the allegations have been officially investigated and reported to Parliament.

Source: New York Times

Thursday, January 18, 1979

Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party

The Seveth Article of the 1979 constitution of the Somali Democratic Republic clarified the role of Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party:

Authority and Leadership of the Party

1. The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party shall be the only legal party in the Somali Democratic Republic; no other party or political organisation may be established.

2. The Somali Revolutionary Socialist party shall have supreme authority of political and socio-economic leadership in the Somali Democratic Republic.


Source: Wikipedia

Wednesday, January 17, 1979

Shah's Departure Hailed In Message by Ayatollah; Ayatollah Calls for Unity Return to Iran Not Specified


Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leading religious opponent of the Shah of Iran, sent congratulations to the Iranian people today on having forcing the Shah to leave the country and called his departure "the first step" toward ending the 57-year reign of the Pahlevi dynasty.

Source: New York Times

Wednesday, January 10, 1979

Bankers Say Shah's Fortune Is Well Above a Billion; State and Royal Funds Blurred Current Holdings Are Detailed 'What Is Money'


Mohammad Riza Pahlevi may be losing a kingdom in Iran, but the pain of his exile, if and when it comes, will be considerably eased by one of the largest private fortunes in the world.

Source: New York Times

Text of a statment by Mohammad Riza Pahlevi


I am going on vacation because I am feeling tired. First I will go to Aswan, Eqypt. With the vote of confidence, given in Parliament today, I hope the Government will be able to make amends for the past and also succeed in laying the foundation for the future. This work needs a long period of cooperation and patriotism in its utmost meaning.

Our economy must start rolling again. We must have better planning for the future. I have no other words to say but: preservation of the system and performamce of duties based on patriotism.

Source: New York Times