Iran FM says US ban on armed opposition "positive"
TEHRAN, Aug 17 (AFP)-- Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi has described Washington's decision to toughen its ban on the armed opposition People's Mujahedeen as "positive", in a warming of the Islamic regime's response, state radio reported Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi :We should not lose sight of the fact that the leaders of this terrorist group are in Iraq, which is under the control of the Americans.
The minister said it was a shame that the US administration had not acted sooner against the group's political wing, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, and added that Tehran still expected Washington to take stronger action against the group's militiamen in US-occupied Iraq.
"In accordance with the list of terrorist groups published in the past by the United States, the US should have acted against this group and have prevented their activities," Kharazi said.
"Nevertheless the decision of the United States, within the framework of its international responsibilities, is a positive step.
"We should not lose sight of the fact that the leaders of this terrorist group are in Iraq, which is under the control of the Americans, and the United States must act against the group's activities," Kharazi added.
"To destroy terrorism, all countries, including the United States, must act against this sinister phenomenon with determination and transparency and in a nonselective way."
A earlier official commentary carried by state television had criticised Friday's decision by Washington to ban the People's Muhajedeen under all its aliases as not going far enough.
"The American decision is necessary but insufficient.
To prove it is not practising double standards towards terrorism, Washington must show sincerity and persistence in its action against the hypocrites," the commentary said, using Tehran's usual term of abuse for the armed opposition.
The People's Mujahedeen set up base in Iraq in 1986 in the midst of Iran's bloody 1980-88 conflict with its western neighbour. The group had lost out in a bitter power struggle with the Islamic regime in the early 1980s.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=17501&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs6 Iranians killed during protests
By
Aug 17, 2003, 21:36
Violent clashes in central Iran have left four protesters and two riot policemen dead.
The demonstrations were sparked by planned changes to local government boundaries.
Setting fire to tyres, damaging cars and smashing shop windows, hundreds of protestors confronted riot police in the central Iranian town of Samirom.
At least four demonstrators and two police officers were killed in the clashes, while dozens have been reported injured.
The protesters were angry about a decision to extend the boundaries of the local government.
Similar changes have triggered bloody riots in Iran in recent years.
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