- Title: AZERBAIJAN: Tension mount between Azerbaijan and Iran
- Date: 24th February 2012
- Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (FEBRUARY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JOURNALIST LOOKING AT COMPUTER SCREEN SHOWING HACKED WEB SITES INSCRIPTION ON SCREEN READING: HACKED BY AZERBAIJAN CYBER ARMY HANDS TYPING ON KEYBOARD INSCRIPTION ON AZ TV WEB SITE READING: IRANIAN CYBER ARMY - LIFE IS GAME - GAME OVER!!!
- Embargoed: 10th March 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan
- Country: Azerbaijan
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4AYL95E3HBYR6BUFDPINZK1L4
- Story Text: Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Spokesmen said on Thursday (February 23) his Ministry served a note of protest to Iran following the arrests of more than 20 people on suspicion of having links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
"Unfortunately, as you know, the note was presented to Iranian side with regard of the arrests of several suspected people. They were suspected in relations with the Iranian Special Services, Intelligence Services. They were arrested and unfortunately, this type of things would really damage our relations between Azerbaijan and Iran," Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman, Elmar Abdulaev, told Reuters.
"We definitely peruse the relations of friendly neighborhood with all our neighbors, with all the countries of the region, but we think that it should be a definitely mutual respect and we will never ever let any disrespect towards Azerbaijan and what we want we want a simple: respect for Azerbaijan and its decision making process," Abdulaev said.
Tension between Iran and Azerbaijan has increased in recent months following the deaths of Iranian nuclear scientists in attacks Tehran blamed on Israel and the United States.
Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador after the recent killing of the nuclear scientist and blamed Baku for facilitating Israeli intelligence.
Azerbaijan's television broadcaster AzTV showed surveillance camera footage released by the National Security Ministry of alleged suspects, who have been detained, as well as various weapons including detonators, explosive matter and automatic pistols. The footage was accompanied by a report that more than 20 people had been arrested on suspicion of plotting attacks and having links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Last month, Azeri authorities arrested two men suspected of plotting to attack foreigners, saying targets included the Israeli ambassador in Baku and a rabbi.
Hackers calling themselves the "Iranian Cyber Army" and "Cocaine Warriors from Persia" have hit the websites of Azerbaijan's national airline AZAL and television station AzTV, following the release of the report.
It was the second such attack on Azeri state portals, officials said on Thursday. Last month, "Iranian Cyber Army" hackers defaced the websites of about 20 Azeri state bodies, posting images of the devil over photos of the Azeri and Israeli presidents, and messages saying "Servants of Jews" and "Enemies of Islam."
Azerbaijan, a Muslim Caspian Sea state and former Soviet republic that borders Iran, has a secular government and cordial ties with the United States and Israel.
Local media outlets reported the latest hackers' attacks were believed to originate in Iran, but gave no evidence. Both AZAL's and AzTV's websites were operating as normal later on Thursday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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