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Iran has provided UN with names of 225 al Qaeda suspects: Asefi

IRNA

Tehran, Oct 26, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi 
said here on Sunday that Iran has provided the UN with the names of 
225 people whom it had repatriated to their respective countries on 
suspicion of membership in the al-Qaeda terror network. 
Asefi, speaking at his weekly press briefing, said Iran`s move was
in line with the UN Resolution 1455. 
He added that Iran has also informed UN about the names of 2,300 
people who have been arrested on its eastern borders while trying to 
infiltrate into the country from Pakistan. 
Asefi stressed that the arrests had been made from the last 
Iranian calendar month of Aban (started 23 October, 2002) to last Tir 
(ended July 22, 2003), adding that the arrested had been all 
repatriated to Pakistan. 
Asked about Iran`s measures to fight against the al-Qaeda 
terrorist group and the possible presence of the movement`s number 
three Said al-Adel, Asefi said, "What we are implementing in 
connection to fighting against al-Qaeda and violent-seeking groups are
in accordance with our responsibilities and the decision made by the 
country`s officials." 
"We have launched such measures (fighting against terrorism) from 
long before, the time before the United States came to understanding 
they (Al-Qaeda) are terrorists," he added. 
The spokesman stressed, "Al-Qaeda has no place in Iran. The news 
that some people are present in Iran is absolutely not true. These are
rumors, guessing." 
He said he prefers not to reveal the names of suspected members 
of the al-Qaeda network detained here due to security aspects of the 
issue. 
SF/AA/211 
End