This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8215293.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Iran 'minister' on Interpol list | Iran 'minister' on Interpol list |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Iran's defence minister-designate is on an Interpol "wanted" list over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Argentina, the agency has confirmed. | Iran's defence minister-designate is on an Interpol "wanted" list over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Argentina, the agency has confirmed. |
It says it has had a "red notice" for Ahmad Vahidi since 2007 over the Buenos Aires attack that killed 85 people. | It says it has had a "red notice" for Ahmad Vahidi since 2007 over the Buenos Aires attack that killed 85 people. |
Interpol uses red notices to inform its 187 member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authority. | Interpol uses red notices to inform its 187 member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authority. |
Israel and Argentina have expressed concern over Mr Vahidi's nomination. | |
"This is yet another of [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad's actions that prove he is a person you cannot deal with," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David told Bloomberg. | "This is yet another of [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad's actions that prove he is a person you cannot deal with," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David told Bloomberg. |
"It's significant, this nomination, but no surprising," Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman told the Associated Press. | |
"Iran has always protected terrorists, giving them government posts, but I think never one as high as this one," he said. | |
Tehran rejected the criticism as a "Zionist plot". | |
Iranian lawmakers still have to confirm the 21-member cabinet proposed on Wednesday by Mr Ahmadinejad - the declared winner of June's disputed presidential elections. | |
But the nomination of Mr Vahidi is another sign of Mr Ahmadinejad's defiance of the West, the BBC's Caroline Hawley says. | But the nomination of Mr Vahidi is another sign of Mr Ahmadinejad's defiance of the West, the BBC's Caroline Hawley says. |
'Key participant' | |
Interpol says that Mr Vahidi has been on its "red notice" list since November 2007. | Interpol says that Mr Vahidi has been on its "red notice" list since November 2007. |
The blast was the worst terror attack in Argentina's history | The blast was the worst terror attack in Argentina's history |
The move to publish the notice for Mr Vahidi - along with five other people - followed a request by the Argentine authorities. | The move to publish the notice for Mr Vahidi - along with five other people - followed a request by the Argentine authorities. |
Mr Vahidi - who was deputy defence minister during Mr Ahmadinejad's first term in office - is accused of involvement in the bombing of the Israeli-Argentine Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires. | Mr Vahidi - who was deputy defence minister during Mr Ahmadinejad's first term in office - is accused of involvement in the bombing of the Israeli-Argentine Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires. |
It was the worst attack on a Jewish target outside Israel since World War II. | It was the worst attack on a Jewish target outside Israel since World War II. |
Mr Nisman said that Mr Vahidi, who led a unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force at the time of the attack, was accused of "being a key participant in the planning and of having made the decision to go ahead with the attack" against the AMIA. | |
"It has been demonstrated that Vahidi participated in and approved of the decision to attack AMIA during the meeting in Iraq on 14 August 1993", the prosecutor said. | |
Iran on Friday rejected Argentina's allegations. | |
"How come they didn't bring it up in the past?" President Ahmadinejad's press adviser, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, told the AFP. | |
"Mr Vahidi was a deputy defence minister and this is very senior political position. Therefore it seems that this is a new trick being planned and is basically a Zionist plot," he added. | |
Interpol says it uses "red notices" - or international-wanted persons alerts - to inform its members that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authorities. | Interpol says it uses "red notices" - or international-wanted persons alerts - to inform its members that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authorities. |
Interpol says that the individuals concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions and Interpol's role is to assist national police. | Interpol says that the individuals concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions and Interpol's role is to assist national police. |
It stresses that its notices are not international warrants. | It stresses that its notices are not international warrants. |
Previous version
1
Next version