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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran getting close to putting al-Qaeda on trial
2004-06-16
Iran is close to putting on trial a group of al Qaeda members it suspects of plotting terrorist activities inside the country, a senior official said Wednesday. Hossein Mousavian, secretary of the foreign policy committee of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, described the suspects as middle-ranking al Qaeda members and said they were still being questioned in jail.

He told reporters in Vienna, where he is heading Iran’s delegation to talks at the U.N. nuclear agency, that the alleged militants had been "plotting against the national security of Iran and they have planned for terrorist activities inside Iran." Asked why Iran was taking so long to try them, he said: "I think we are getting close to a trial...The process is going on. First of all I think the process of questioning should be finalized." Asked if Iran was holding Adel, Mousavian refused to answer directly but added, laughing: "This is not, definitely, (Osama) bin Laden or Mullah Omar" -- a reference to the fugitive al Qaeda and Taliban leaders. Iran’s foreign minister first said in January that Iran was holding about a dozen al Qaeda suspects and planned to try them. The United States demanded at the time that Tehran hand over the suspects to their countries of origin. Mousavian said such a handover was possible, but only after a trial. "It depends on the result of the trial...If and when Iran decides to deliver, they will deliver to their own countries, not to the United States," he said.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#8  Riiiiiggttt. Suuuurrre they will.

Right after the sun rises in the west, hell freezes over, and the law of gravity is repealed by voter-initiated referendum.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-06-16 9:29:45 PM  

#7  So that would mean what, caviar, a Mercedes, and a golden crescent necklace for a parting gift?
Posted by: jules 187   2004-06-16 4:49:45 PM  

#6  Too bad the Iranians don't see what the Chinese are all about, and I'm not sure anybody else does either. The Chinese make the Islamics seem "warm and fuzzy" by comparison. Good thing they don't have the ability to carry out their aims (yet).

Preach it, ex-lib!

I've been screaming this from the rooftops and nobody seems to be purchasing a clue. The Chinese are the real terrorists. Militant Islam is just a conspicuously violent religious convulsion, while China is a dire and potent threat to the entire world. Iran is merely another North Korea in the litter of rabid Rotweillers being suckled by communist China.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-06-16 1:39:25 PM  

#5  Right on, Zenster. Smoke and mirrors, on Iran's part.

Iran needs more time to work things out with China, and China needs more time to play Iran right without being discovered by the greater powers. Iran gets what they want and so does China. If China can effect a big blow, and blame it on a rogue state, it serves them well. And the Iranian mullasses are hoping to deflect attention away from themselves, and come away with an accusation in the back pocket for the political gaming: "See! We have cooperated with the West, and still they wish to aggress against us! Imperialists! Oil-mongers!" Too bad the Iranians don't see what the Chinese are all about, and I'm not sure anybody else does either. The Chinese make the Islamics seem "warm and fuzzy" by comparison. Good thing they don't have the ability to carry out their aims (yet).
Posted by: ex-lib   2004-06-16 1:20:49 PM  

#4  Iran getting close to putting al-Qaeda on trial

As is being made very clear, Iran will do anything with the least resemblance to what Europe hopes from them in order that they might gain more time for fabricating a nuclear device.

This is blatant accommodation and merely stalling for time. Nobody should be fooled by such palliative measures.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-06-16 12:49:29 PM  

#3  their crime? Being the wrong terrorists
Posted by: Frank G   2004-06-16 11:10:10 AM  

#2  30 dinars or 30 days!

"Most gracious imman the money sounds good but I do need the vacation"
Posted by: Shipman   2004-06-16 11:09:00 AM  

#1  Al Qaeda on trial in Iran? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I need the bathroom.
Posted by: Howard UK   2004-06-16 10:35:02 AM  

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