5000 terrorists seized, Iran says

08jun05

KUWAIT CITY: Iran has arrested almost 5000 al-Qa'ida operatives in the past three years and handed them back to their countries, the head of Tehran's National Security Council said yesterday.

Hasan Rowhani made the claim in Kuwait, while denying recent allegations that leading terror suspects from Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'ida network have been living in Iran.
"I don't think any country could claim superiority over us (in combating al-Qa'ida)," Mr Rowhani said.

Iran had given the names of those it had extradited or detained to the UN, he said.

Britain's Sunday Times newspaper reported last month that al-Qa'ida's leader of the Iraq insurgency, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had been injured fighting US troops near the Iraqi city of Ramadi and had crossed the border into Iran for treatment.

US intelligence agencies claim that mounting evidence gathered over several years has convinced them leading terrorist suspects have been living in Iran.

Mr Rowhani denied the allegations, saying his country had been co-operating in combating terrorism and had received praise from international bodies.

A number of al-Qa'ida operatives remained in Iranian jails for crimes allegedly committed against national security in Iran and would be tried in the country, he said.

Iran first said in mid-2003 that it had detained and deported hundreds of al-Qa'ida suspects and had kept some in custody.

But US officials said Iran refused to identify the al-Qa'ida operatives still held in its custody.

Mr Rowhani said relations with the US could improve following Iran's June 17 presidential elections but that efforts to improve ties must be mutual.

"I think the American side must take courageous steps," the security boss said. "If the next Iranian president saw that America took a positive step, he will do the same."

Mr Rowhani said direct and indirect channels of communication with Washington were open.

The US has had no diplomatic relations with Iran since Iranian students seized the US embassy in the capital, Tehran, in 1979.

Mr Rowhani, who is also Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said he hoped Washington had stopped the language of "threats" against his country.

The US has led international pressure against Iran's nuclear program, which Washington claims is intended to build nuclear weapons. Iran, however, insists its program is for peaceful energy purposes.

AP
 

The Australian.com