This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-latin-america-13612569
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Bolivia apologises to Argentina for Iran minister visit | Bolivia apologises to Argentina for Iran minister visit |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Bolivia has apologised to neighbouring Argentina for inviting Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi for a visit. | Bolivia has apologised to neighbouring Argentina for inviting Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi for a visit. |
General Vahidi is wanted by Argentina for allegedly masterminding the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. | General Vahidi is wanted by Argentina for allegedly masterminding the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. |
Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca wrote to his Argentine counterpart, saying Mr Vahidi would be leaving immediately. | Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca wrote to his Argentine counterpart, saying Mr Vahidi would be leaving immediately. |
Iran has long denied any involvement in the bombing. | Iran has long denied any involvement in the bombing. |
On Tuesday, Gen Vahidi attended a military ceremony in the city of Santa Cruz, in the presence of Bolivian President Evo Morales. | On Tuesday, Gen Vahidi attended a military ceremony in the city of Santa Cruz, in the presence of Bolivian President Evo Morales. |
The Argentine authorities reacted immediately to news of Gen Vahidi's visit, notifying Bolivian officials that they had sought his arrest since 2007. | The Argentine authorities reacted immediately to news of Gen Vahidi's visit, notifying Bolivian officials that they had sought his arrest since 2007. |
Guillermo Borger, head of the Amia, the Jewish association whose building was destroyed in 1994, called Gen Vahidi's presence a "provocation". | Guillermo Borger, head of the Amia, the Jewish association whose building was destroyed in 1994, called Gen Vahidi's presence a "provocation". |
Red notice | Red notice |
Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca subsequently sent a letter to Hector Timerman, his Argentine counterpart, expressing his government's "deepest apologies". | Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca subsequently sent a letter to Hector Timerman, his Argentine counterpart, expressing his government's "deepest apologies". |
The invitation, Mr Choquehuanca wrote, had been issued by the Bolivian defence ministry which did not know the background to the case and had not co-ordinated with other departments. | The invitation, Mr Choquehuanca wrote, had been issued by the Bolivian defence ministry which did not know the background to the case and had not co-ordinated with other departments. |
The Iranian minister would be leaving immediately, the letter said. | The Iranian minister would be leaving immediately, the letter said. |
Sources told Reuters news agency that the minister had departed Bolivia late on Tuesday. | Sources told Reuters news agency that the minister had departed Bolivia late on Tuesday. |
Since 2007, Interpol has had a "red notice" in place for Gen Vahidi, informing its 187 member countries that Argentina was seeking his arrest. | |
At the time of the Amia attack, Gen Vahidi was the commander of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force. | At the time of the Amia attack, Gen Vahidi was the commander of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force. |
Iran has repeatedly said none of its nationals were involved in the 1994 bombing. | Iran has repeatedly said none of its nationals were involved in the 1994 bombing. |
Previous version
1
Next version