Iran says diplomat `disappeared` in Iraq
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Aug 8, IRNA -- Iran said Sunday one of its consular officials in Iraq, Fereidoun Jahani, had disappeared Wednesday on the road between Baghdad and Karbala. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi refused to say whether the diplomat had been kidnapped, saying `there is no reliable information at present about the motives behind this action` and that `the issue needs more investigation`. "An armed group in Iraq has released information about him and there is speculation about him being kidnapped, but we do not have sufficient information in this respect yet," Asefi said. "The issue is being followed up with sensitivity with all the related Iraqi officials, he said. He said Tehran was also following up the issue through Swiss Embassy which looks after US interests in Iran as well as British ambassador and Iraqi diplomats in the Islamic Republic. Asefi said that `Mr. Fereidoun Jahani disappeared on the road from Baghdad to Karbala Wednesday and all the urgent and necessary measures were subsequently taken to gain information` on his whereabouts after hours wore out for him to turn up. A statement from a group, calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, and read on the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television channel alleged that Jahani was `detained for stirring sectarian strife and for activities outside his diplomatic duties`. Pictures were shown of the diplomat`s passport, identity and business cards along with what appeared to be footage of him speaking. Iran has strongly dismissed allegations of interference in Iraq, saying these were `without evidence`. Asefi said Sunday it was summoning Iraq`s top diplomat to Tehran for explanation following accusations by officials of the Iraqi interim government against Iran. "We have repeatedly announced that we don`t want to interfere in Iraq and we are after tranquility, stability and strengthening security in Iraq," he said in his weekly news briefing. Iraq`s Defense Minister Hazim al-Shalaan last week branded Iran as Iraq`s `first enemy`, and has accused Tehran of `blatant interference` in Iraq`s domestic affairs. Asefi said, "Mr. Allawi (Prime Minister Iyad Allawi) has announced that the defense minister`s statements have been distorted ... we hope it is so and we will not witness irresponsible remarks in the future." The Iraqi newspaper Al-Zaman quoted an Iraqi intelligence official as saying four Iranian intelligence officers had been arrested in Iraq for conducting `espionage and sabotage`. Asefi said, "These statements indicate that there is some incoherence in Iraq`s (official) apparatus and the Iraqis are required to be vigilant." Asefi said Tehran believes there is need for `practical and wise methods to resolve Iraq`s domestic crisis`. 2323/2322/1432
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