SPAIN: Iranian Vice President reacts to kidnapping of a senior Iranian diplomat in Baghdad
Record ID:
313595
SPAIN: Iranian Vice President reacts to kidnapping of a senior Iranian diplomat in Baghdad
- Title: SPAIN: Iranian Vice President reacts to kidnapping of a senior Iranian diplomat in Baghdad
- Date: 6th February 2007
- Summary: (EU) MADRID, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 06, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF SPAIN'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SIGN IRAN'S VICE-PRESIDENT, RAHIM MASHAEI, IRAN AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN, SEYED DAVUD SALEHI, AND IRANIAN DELEGATION WALKING OUT OF MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DOOR JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN'S VICE-PRESIDENT, RAHIM MASHAEI, SAYING: "It is evident that these actions are not beneficial for the people of Iraq, the people of this region, and certainly not for world peace. We must endeavour to put an end to this. The main problem (in this region) is the current occupation, and there are no possibilities of us reaching any positive conclusions with the current circumstances." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRAN'S VICE-PRESIDENT, RAHIM MASHAEI, SAYING: "I cannot say who was responsible for this. What is important in this region is that we are in great need of peace, we are relying on national unity, and what is important is for every country, and the international community to cooperate, and not get involved in order to achieve peace, and to put an end to this crisis." JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN, SEYED DAVUD SALEHI, SAYING: "I emphasize that these kinds of actions in Baghdad, this terrorist action is not good. We are the victims of terrorism and these are difficult times for the people of Iraq and that is why I can draw the attention of the regional countries and also the international community, the European communities in order to settle peace." VARIOUS OF IRANIAN VICE-PRESIDENT, IRAN AMBASSADOR TO SPAIN AND IRANIAN DELEGATION LEAVING THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Embargoed: 21st February 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Reuters ID: LVA2MOMO89RKSJO4R9NIHK1L7FPR
- Story Text: Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms kidnapped a senior Iranian diplomat in Baghdad on Sunday (February 4, 2007), Iraqi and Iranian officials said on Tuesday (February 6), and Tehran said it held U.S. forces responsible for his safety.
The Iranian Vice-president, Rahim Mashaei reacted to the kidnapping in Madrid on Tuesday.
"It is evident that these actions are not beneficial for the people of Iraq, the people of this region, and certainly not for world peace. We must endeavour to put an end to this. The main problem (in this region) is the current occupation, and there are no possibilities of us reaching any positive conclusions with the current circumstances," he said.
The official said the diplomat, the second secretary at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, was snatched in the central Karrada district by 30 gunmen wearing the uniforms of a special Iraqi army unit that often works with U.S. military forces in Iraq.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini confirmed the kidnapping of Jalal Sharafi by a group related to Iraq's Defence Ministry "which works under the supervision of American forces", the Iranian Students News Agency said.
Mashaei did not pin responsibility for this kidnapping on anyone, saying it is important peace is brought to Iraq.
"I cannot say who was responsible for this. What is important in this region is that we are in great need of peace, we are relying on national unity, and what is important is for every country, and the international community to cooperate, and not get involved in order to achieve peace, and to put an end to this crisis," he said
Iran's Ambassador to Spain, Seyed Davud Salehi said it the European and International communities needed to push for peace.
"I emphasize that these kinds of actions in Baghdad, this terrorist action is not good. We are the victims of terrorism and these are difficult times for the people of Iraq and that is why I can draw the attention of the regional countries and also the international community, the European communities in order to settle peace," Salehi said.
U.S. forces in Iraq have arrested a number of Iranians, including some diplomats, in the past two months, and are still holding five Iranians. Washington accuses Tehran of funding and training militants fighting U.S. forces in Iraq.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. embassy or U.S. military officials, but Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, blamed Washington for the kidnapping. U.S. President George W. Bush vowed in January to disrupt what he called the "flow of support" from Tehran to Iraqi militants. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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