DATE=6/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN DEFECTOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263219
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S official says American intelligence
experts are interviewing an Iranian defector who says
Iran was behind the bomb that blew up Pan Am flight
103 over Scotland in 1988. The defector also says
Iranian operatives blew up a U-S military barracks in
Saudi Arabia in 1996. As V-O-A's Jim Randle reports,
the U-S official says Washington has drawn "no final
conclusion" on the claims, but says the defector's
story has some "very large holes."
TEXT: The defector, Ahmad Behbahani (prono: AH-mad
BAY-be-HAN-ee), told an American television network
that he headed overseas terrorism operations for
Iran's government for 10 years.
Mr. Behbahani told a C-B-S producer that Iran carried
out the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in a joint
operation with Libya.
The defector says Iran sought revenge for an Iranian
airliner mistakenly downed earlier that year by a U-S
warship.
Two Libyan men are on trial in the Netherlands on
charges of planting the Pan Am bomb, which killed 270
people.
U-S State Department spokesman Philip Reeker says that
trial will continue.
/// Reeker Act ///
We will follow the evidence wherever it leads.
In the meantime, the United States stands by the
facts of the case as outlined in the indictment
that we have presented of the two Libyans
currently on trial for the attack, and we
believe that case is very solid.
/// End Act ///
The C-B-S interview with the defector was not recorded
because Mr. Behbanani is in a Turkish refugee camp,
where officials would not allow cameras. The
television network says an Iranian-born network
employee sneaked into the camp and held a conversation
with the defector.
The defector also said Iran was behind the 1996
bombing of the Khobar Towers military housing complex
in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U-S troops.
Mr. Reeker says Iran has been involved in terrorism
for years.
/// Reeker Act ///
In terms of Iran support for terrorism, our most
recent terrorism report makes very clear our
concerns about Iran's use of terrorism and has
continually called Iran the most active state
sponsor of terrorism.
/// End Act ///
If U-S officials confirm the defector's story, it
could hurt Washington's efforts to improve relations
with the government of Iranian President Mohammed
Khatami. He is a cleric elected president of Iran in
1997 and is viewed in the West as a relative moderate.
Meanwhile, Iran's intelligence chief is dismissing the
charges made by the alleged defector. Intelligence
Minister Ali Yunesi says the man is inventing anti-
Iranian stories to improve his chances of getting
political asylum in the West. (Signed)
NEB/JR/JP
06-Jun-2000 12:17 PM EDT (06-Jun-2000 1617 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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