KHAMENEH'I ESCAPED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, RUMOURS
TEHRAN 21 May (IPS) The leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i has escaped an assassination attempt, according to unconfirmed news circulating in Tehran.
According to the rumours, at least four commanders of the Revolutionary Guards attacked the residence of Mr. Khameneh'i, but they could not kill him for unknown reasons and had been caught by the leader’s personal guards.
The news of the assassination attempt emerged after un-identified high-ranking officers of the Guards intervened with Mr. Khameneh'i to stop an order to have the four commanders involved in the coup executed.
"They were expelled to neighbouring Afghanistan", an informed source from the Guards reported.
The rumours filled the capital at a time that there are more and more talk in every political circle that the ayatollah’s regime is reaching its end and is in the process of crumbling, the Soviet Union way.
The last alarm was given by a senior conservative cleric in Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, saying the regime was "in the verge of collapse".
In unrelated story, President Mohammad Khatami apparently has offered his resignation to the leader, telling him that he do not care what "others" would say about his decision or how they would react.
Last week, in a speech with teachers, the embattled and powerless Khatami menaced to resign "if the government deviated from the course of reforms".
Following the speech, some senior reformist MMs (members of the Majles) said if the President resigns, the bulk of the reformist deputies would also follow him.
The latest information about Mr. Khatami’s threats to resignation is that he had told the leader that either the conservatives stop at once in putting brakes on the reforms, that some senior dissidents, including journalists and clerics, would be freed and some of the 84 publications shut on the order of the leader would be allowed to resume or he would go home. ENDS KHAMENEH'I COUP 21502