NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2006 — 06-jan-apr — Viewing Item

Brits deny iran bombing allegations Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1540413 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1540413 Brits Deny Iran's Bombing Allegations Britain Describes As 'Ludicrous' Iran's Blaming of the U.S. and Britain for Bombings in Iran By NASSER KARIMI The Associated Press TEHRAN, IRAN Jan 25, 2006 - Iran's president on Wednesday blamed "the occupiers of Iraq" inferring the United States and Britain for two bombings that killed at least nine people in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. The foreign minister said the bombers were supported by the British military, which is based in southern Iraq. Ahvaz has a history of violence involving members of Iran's Arab minority. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office called the allegations "ludicrous." State television said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a decree ordering his foreign minister and intelligence minister to investigate the possibility that "foreign hands" were responsible for Tuesday's blasts inside a bank and outside a state environmental agency building. Forty-six people were wounded, the official Islamic Republic News Agency has reported. "Traces of the occupiers of Iraq is evident in the Ahvaz events. They should take responsibility in this regard," state television quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. The blasts occurred in the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq. Ahmadinejad and his entire Cabinet had been expected to visit Ahvaz on the day of the bombings to address local issues, but the president canceled the visit. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference Wednesday that the bombs were planted by people "who have taken souvenir pictures with British officials in London, while enjoying the intelligence facilities and the support of the British military commander in Basra," southern Iraq. Iran repeatedly has accused Britain of provoking unrest in the region, near where 8,500 British soldiers are based in Iraq. The spokesman for Blair's office, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy, denied the accusations Wednesday. "The Iranian government's suggestion that we somehow had a hand in the bomb explosions in southern Iran yesterday is obviously ludicrous and deserves to be treated with scorn by the whole international community," the spokesman said. "Their putting the blame on us, rather than the terrorist responsible, underlines why there is much widespread international concern about this Iranian government." Neither the president nor Mottaki gave any evidence to support their claims of U.S. or British involvement. On Tuesday, Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi said the attacks in Ahvaz were foreign-inspired and related to last year's bombings in the same city. In October, Iran blamed Britain for two blasts at an Ahvaz shopping mall that killed six people and wounded dozens. Tehran also blamed June bombings that killed at least eight people on Iranian Arab extremists with ties to foreign governments, including British intelligence. Britain has denied any connection to the Khuzestan unrest. Tensions between the two countries have flared recently over Britain's opposition to Iran's resumption of nuclear activities. The United States and its European allies suspect Iran has ambitions to produce nuclear weapons, and Britain supports moves to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to impose economic and political sanctions. Iran says its nuclear program is for generating electricity. Britain also has accused Tehran of allowing Iraqi insurgents to receive explosives technology that has been used to attack British soldiers. Iran denies those allegations. Arabs make up less than 3 percent of Iran's population, and most live in Khuzestan. In April, residents of Ahvaz rioted for two days after Arab separatists circulated reports the government planned to decrease the proportion of Arabs in the province. The government denied the claim. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

130 dead in series of iraq attacks { December 2006 } 36 dead after blast in baghdad vegetable market 3800 executed in iraq first three months of 2006 65 thousand refugees flee sectarian violence 70 iraqis killed in spasm of violence { March 13 2006 } Air strikes target civilians { January 3 2006 } Apparent iraqi death squad discovered { February 17 2006 } Big assault has no contract with insurgents { March 17 2006 } Blast destroys golden dome of shiite shrine Blast hits sunni mosque in iraq Blast kills 16 near shiite mosque in baghdad Bomb explodes in crowded market Bomb kills 80 sunnis turns city against alqaeda Bombed sunni shrine is mistaken as shiite { February 24 2006 } Brits deny iran bombing allegations Cheney says iraq is not in civil war { February 2006 } Cost of war to pass 1 trillion { March 17 2006 } Fears of civil war after reprisals { February 23 2006 } Foreigners not civil war says US military Government bans traffic in baghdad Gunmen kill woman after car bomb hits sunni mosque { February 10 2006 } Gunmen posing as police kill sunnis in retaliation Insurgents posing as police attach shiite shrine { February 22 2006 } Iran says US and israel destroyed iraqi shrine Iraq abductors threaten to kill peace activists { January 29 2006 } Iraq blast kills 10 shiite leader delay parliament Iraq civil war to spread across middle east { March 19 2006 } Iraq politican blames foreign intelligence for shrine attack { February 24 2006 } Iraqis 700k christians celebrate easter Iraqis burn flag before prayer fri mar 10 2006 [jpg] Largest air assault since 2003 invasion 2006 mar Major january attacks kill 70 sunnis { January 6 2006 } Marines beat back sunni arab insurgents { March 2006 } Militants attack iraq fuel convoy Military asserts most iraq is peaceful { February 2006 } Over 100 iraqis killed in sectarian violence { February 24 2006 } Palestinians targeted in iraq Peace activist quaker slain in iraq { March 12 2006 } Police chief claims attack on alsadr to divide iraqis Political progress destabilized by another attack { March 13 2006 } Press says iraq near civil war after 68 killed Retaliation on sunnis after deliberate sectarian attempt Shiites pissed at US military raid on mosque Sister of iraqi vice president shot dead Suicide bomber kills 36 at funeral procession { January 4 2006 } Sunni chief seeks release of US reporter Sunni mosque bombed as iraqi tanks deploy in baghdad { February 27 2006 } Three explosions at shiite mosque in baghdad Troops cant find insurgents in major assault Unknown kidnapped briton freed by accident US commander says iraq crisis has passed { February 2006 } US military seizes iraqi reporter for guardian { January 9 2006 } US troops raid sunni clerical scholars group Young clerics call for american hatred { February 26 2006 } Files Listed: 54

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