THE ICE-CREAM vans and hot-dog stalls down by the Albert Hall were doing a roaring trade over the Bank Holiday week-end. A constant trickle of curious sightseers picked their way round the police cordon surrounding the Iranian Embassy.
Everyone seemed to be supporting someone; but nobody seemed to give second thought to the Al-Nassar martyrs, holed up in the Embassy and facing organised strength of the Metropolitan police and, as it turned out, the Army.
Yet behind the rumours and which round the seizure of the Iranian lies the collull struggle Iran's national minorities against the Tehrar government.
Outlook the political outook or le activists wild seized the embassy, the Arab movement in Khuzestan (the area they refer "Arabestan') is a just struggle by an oppressed people attempting to shake off the shackles of Persian domination.
This oppression has been with the Arab people since the government Insted Reza Khan as shah in Iran in 1924.
The oppression of Arabs in Khuzestan is linked to the existence there of the majority of Iran's Oll reserves. FOr turies the Arab people formed a majority of the area's population.
But the development of the oil fields by the Tehran governand demanding the return of a religious leader who disappeared last July.
In Masjed-e Suleiman, unemployed youth demonstrated in front of the government offices demanding jobs, and they have fought pitched battles with the pasdars (revolutionary guards) sent to disperse them.
have the and Arab moveand Cairo® EGYPT Jeddal :N.YEMEN SUDAN ETHIOPIA KENYA * Saudi Military Bases • Tehran ÍRAQ Baghdad IRAN latral Batin [BAHRAIN Riyadh* Khamis Mushait Aden (Soviet Base BERBERA É MOMBASA Kabul AFGHANISTAN MUSCAT OMAN_ MASIRAH THAMARIT ESALALAH U.S. Seeking possible air force/naval facilities E Diego Garcia (U.S.Existing Base, Islamabad Delhi® INDIA