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DATE=2/24/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245898 TITLE=IRAN SECURITY MINISTER (L) BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRAN'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED A NEW MINISTER OF INTELLIGENCE WHO IS PLEDGING TO REFORM THE GOVERNMENT'S SECRET SERVICES. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE PREVIOUS MINISTER RESIGNED AFTER MEMBERS OF THE MINISTRY WERE IMPLICATED IN A SERIES OF POLITICAL MURDERS. TEXT: THE IRANIAN MAJLIS, OR CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, WEDNESDAY OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED HOJATOLESLAM ALI YUNESI AS THE NEW MINISTER OF INTELLIGENCE BY A VOTE OF 197 TO NINE. MR. YUNESI TOLD THE MAJLIS HE WILL WORK TO MAKE THE INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY STRONG, INDEPENDENT AND UNBIASED. HE LATER TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE RULE OF LAW AND VALUES WILL BE HIS MAIN PROGRAM AND PLEDGED THAT REFORMS WILL BE MADE. MR. YUNESI TAKES OVER A MINISTRY WHICH HAS BEEN ROCKED BY SCANDAL IN RECENT MONTHS. INVESTIGATORS HAVE ARRESTED A NUMBER OF MINISTRY EMPLOYEES FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDERS LAST YEAR OF TWO DISSIDENT POLITICIANS AND AT LEAST TWO SECULAR INTELLECTUALS. MR. YUNESI HEADS THE COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS. HE TOLD REPORTERS A SCORE OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED IN THE MURDERS AND THAT 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. HE SAID THREE OF THE LAST FOUR PEOPLE ARRESTED ARE EMPLOYEES OF HIS MINISTRY. HE SAID NO DEPUTY MINISTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BUT THAT SOME OFFICIALS WITH THE RANK OF DIRECTOR-GENERAL ARE IN DETENTION. HOJATOLESLAM ALI YUNESI IS A 43-YEAR-OLD RELIGIOUS LEADER WITH GOOD REVOLUTIONARY CREDENTIALS. HE FOUGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF SHAH REZA PAHLAVI AND WAS TWICE IMPRISONED FOR HIS ACTIVITIES. AFTER THE FALL OF THE SHAH, HE SERVED ON THE REVOLUTIONARY COURTS AND MILITARY TRIBUNALS THAT TRIED MANY SUPPORTERS OF THE DEPOSED GOVERNMENT. IN THE 1980'S, HE HELPED ESTABLISH THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT. IRAN'S NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF IS VIEWED AS A POLITICAL CONSERVATIVE, BUT HE REPORTEDLY RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM MODERATE POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF HIS REPUTATION AS AN OFFICIAL WHO DISTANCES HIS WORK FROM HIS POLITICAL LEANINGS. HOWEVER, EXILED IRANIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE NOT WELCOMED THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF. THEY RECALL HIS WORK ON THE MILITARY TRIBUNALS, WHICH DETAINED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND SENTENCED HUNDREDS TO DEATH. AND THEY SAY THIS BACKGROUND IS NOT LIKELY TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION'S POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (SIGNED) NEB/SB/JWH 24-Feb-99 10:28 AM EST (1528 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .