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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Camp Ashraf groups vow to fight on | Camp Ashraf groups vow to fight on |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Protests were launched all around the world, including Washington and London | Protests were launched all around the world, including Washington and London |
| By Sebastian Usher BBC News | By Sebastian Usher BBC News |
| Supporters of the residents of a camp for Iranian dissidents in Iraq say they will continue their international protests demanding the US and the UN give them protection. | Supporters of the residents of a camp for Iranian dissidents in Iraq say they will continue their international protests demanding the US and the UN give them protection. |
| On Wednesday, dozens of supporters around the world ended a 72-day hunger strike after one of their main demands was met - the release of 36 Camp Ashraf inmates detained by the Iraqi authorities for the past two-and-a-half months. | On Wednesday, dozens of supporters around the world ended a 72-day hunger strike after one of their main demands was met - the release of 36 Camp Ashraf inmates detained by the Iraqi authorities for the past two-and-a-half months. |
| They were seized during a raid on 28 and 29 July. | They were seized during a raid on 28 and 29 July. |
| Video filmed by people in Camp Ashraf appears to show Iraqi police and soldiers shooting and beating camp residents. | Video filmed by people in Camp Ashraf appears to show Iraqi police and soldiers shooting and beating camp residents. |
| Up to 11 inmates are reported to have been killed and hundreds wounded. | Up to 11 inmates are reported to have been killed and hundreds wounded. |
| Camp Ashraf was handed over to Iraqi government control at the start of 2009 by the Americans. US forces had taken control of the camp after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. | Camp Ashraf was handed over to Iraqi government control at the start of 2009 by the Americans. US forces had taken control of the camp after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. |
| It had long been one of the main bases of the Iranian dissident group, the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI). | It had long been one of the main bases of the Iranian dissident group, the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI). |
| A leftist group, they launched attacks not just on the clerical leaders of Iran but on their predecessor, the Shah. | A leftist group, they launched attacks not just on the clerical leaders of Iran but on their predecessor, the Shah. |
| In the 1980s, they were accused of a bombing campaign against new Islamist leadership - the most devastating in 1981 killing some 70 senior officials, including the Chief Justice Mohammed Beheshti and a number of MPs and members of the cabinet. | In the 1980s, they were accused of a bombing campaign against new Islamist leadership - the most devastating in 1981 killing some 70 senior officials, including the Chief Justice Mohammed Beheshti and a number of MPs and members of the cabinet. |
| The PMOI later set up a camp in Ashraf. The exiles' presence was welcomed by the former president, Saddam Hussein, who was fighting a war against Iran at the time. | The PMOI later set up a camp in Ashraf. The exiles' presence was welcomed by the former president, Saddam Hussein, who was fighting a war against Iran at the time. |
| He funded and armed the PMOI's military wing, the National Liberation Army of Iran, which fought alongside Iraqi troops. | He funded and armed the PMOI's military wing, the National Liberation Army of Iran, which fought alongside Iraqi troops. |
| Health problems | Health problems |
| Camp Ashraf is now home to more than 3,000 people. The Americans provided protection for them against outside threats from Iran and Iraq. | Camp Ashraf is now home to more than 3,000 people. The Americans provided protection for them against outside threats from Iran and Iraq. |
| Video from inside the camp showed unrest and apparent police brutality | Video from inside the camp showed unrest and apparent police brutality |
| After the seizure of the 36 camp residents in July, an international campaign was mounted to to put pressure on Iraq to release them. | After the seizure of the 36 camp residents in July, an international campaign was mounted to to put pressure on Iraq to release them. |
| Hunger strikes were held in several major cities around the world to publicise the case. In London, 12 relatives and friends of people in the camp kept up their hunger strike outside the US embassy for 72 days. | Hunger strikes were held in several major cities around the world to publicise the case. In London, 12 relatives and friends of people in the camp kept up their hunger strike outside the US embassy for 72 days. |
| Now the detainees have been released, they've ended their hunger strike, which consisted of taking only tea and sugar to keep them alive. | Now the detainees have been released, they've ended their hunger strike, which consisted of taking only tea and sugar to keep them alive. |
| Their spokeswoman Laila Jazayeri says they now have serious health problems - and are under observation in hospital. | |
| Ms Jazayeri says their action played a vital role in securing the detainees' freedom. | |
| But she says the protests will continue, to demand that US forces resume control of the camp, that the UN supplies a monitoring team there - and that none of the inmates are sent to Iran. | But she says the protests will continue, to demand that US forces resume control of the camp, that the UN supplies a monitoring team there - and that none of the inmates are sent to Iran. |
| Repatriation fear | Repatriation fear |
| Camp Ashraf presents the US with a difficult dilemma. | Camp Ashraf presents the US with a difficult dilemma. |
| Its handover of control in January was part of its phased withdrawal from Iraq. | Its handover of control in January was part of its phased withdrawal from Iraq. |
| The Iraqi government gave assurances that the inmates would be treated humanely and not forcibly returned to Iran. The raid in July put this in question. | The Iraqi government gave assurances that the inmates would be treated humanely and not forcibly returned to Iran. The raid in July put this in question. |
| Camp residents say the Shia-led Iraqi government - which has close political ties with Tehran - is receptive to Iranian pressure to expel them. They fear that if they are repatriated, they could face torture, imprisonment or execution. | Camp residents say the Shia-led Iraqi government - which has close political ties with Tehran - is receptive to Iranian pressure to expel them. They fear that if they are repatriated, they could face torture, imprisonment or execution. |
| If the US allowed this to happen, it would not fit well with Washington's professed support for opposition activists in Iran. | If the US allowed this to happen, it would not fit well with Washington's professed support for opposition activists in Iran. |
| The issue is further complicated by the fact that the PMOI is still designated a terrorist organisation in the US - a label the European Union lifted earlier this year. | The issue is further complicated by the fact that the PMOI is still designated a terrorist organisation in the US - a label the European Union lifted earlier this year. |
| But for now at least, the US seems likely to use its influence on the Iraqi government to make sure it keeps its word on Camp Ashraf. | But for now at least, the US seems likely to use its influence on the Iraqi government to make sure it keeps its word on Camp Ashraf. |