IRAN: Al-Qaeda presence refuted

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

TEHRAN, Feb 13 2003 (IPS) - Iran on Thursday rejected as – baseless" recent allegations by CIA Director George Tenet that suspected terror network Al-Qaeda had established presence in Iran.

"The seriousness of Iran in fighting terrorism and expelling those suspected of being affiliated to Al-Qaeda is quite clear, sincere and blunt," Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said.

Tenet told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday without providing any evidence that "We see disturbing signs that Al-Qaeda has established a presence in both Iran and Iraq."

Washington holds Al-Qaeda responsible for the September 11, 2001 terror attack on US landmarks, including the World Trade Center, which reportedly killed about 3,000 people.

Tehran in February announced that it had arrested 150 infiltrators, suspected of links to hard-line Taliban and Al-Qaeda, at its borders with Pakistan. It identified them as being nationals of Arab, African and European countries, with some holding French, British, Belgian, Spanish and Dutch passports. They were extradited to their countries.