Thursday, January 11, 2007

DAR AL ISLAM-IRAN / IRAQ: U.S. RAIDS IRANIAN CONSULATE IN ARBIL IRAQ, IRAN IS UPSET & FEELING PROVOKED

Iran condemns US raid on its Iraq consulate
(AFP)11 January 2007

TEHERAN - Iran on Thursday condemned as ”provocative” a raid by US troops on the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil during which five employees were arrested.

“This is a provocative US action and it is contrary to all international laws, and it is condemned,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state run radio.

“By doing this the Americans are following two aims, firstly to continue their pressure on Iran and secondly to create tension among Iraq’s neighbours,” he said.

“These provocations and mischievous actions cannot tarnish the ongoing friendly relations with Iraq,” Hosseini added, however.

He said that Iran had asked Iraqi officials to pursue the case.

An Iranian diplomat in Baghdad said on condition of anonymity that US troops had Thursday raided the Iranian consulate in Arbil and arrested five employees.

“We don’t know the reason for this,” the diplomat said of the raid, which came amid mounting US accusations that Iranian agents are fomenting unrest in Iraq and ordering attacks on American forces.

“The Americans arrested five employees and took all the computers and documentation,” the Iranian official said.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Iran condemns US raid on its Iraq consulate

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