GOVT. FORCES IN AZERBAIJAN

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5281, 18 December 1946, Page 5

GOVT. FORCES IN AZERBAIJAN

(Press Assn —

OR'DER IS RESTORED DATE FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS UNCERTAIN

-Rec. 9.80 p.m.)

~ - LONDON, Dec. 17. It is officially aimoimced- in Teheran that Persian Government troops have entered Astara, the Azerbaijan port on the Caspian Sea jnst south of th^ Russian f rontier. A spokesman of the Persian propagancla ministry said that the general elections had been postponed again. He added that it' was not yet known when they would be held. Government forees in. Azerbaijan recovered gold worth £15,1)00, which the Azexbaijan Premier, Dr. Pishevari, was attempting to take .abroad. The gold was in lorries, which were bogged. The frontier between Azerbaijan and Russia has been closed and xnanned by Persian Government troops, says the Teheran correspondent of the Daily Express. The election in AzexLaijan has been postponed until a new GovernorGeneral has been appointed. Goverxrment forees yesterday arrested the Governor-General, Dr. Javid, and the Px'esidexxt of the Provincial Council, Haji Ali Shabestaxi. They are being sent to Teheran. Teheran radio says order has beexr restored throughout Azerbaijaxi and there is now free access to any part of the province. It is officially announced in Teheran that the Pidme Minister, Qavaixi es Sultaneh, has oi'dered the release from prison of Jamal Ixnaxni, the Azerbaijan Right Wing deputy to the Majlis (Parliament). Janxal Imaini was arrested last April.