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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iran envoy 'abducted in Baghdad' | Iran envoy 'abducted in Baghdad' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An Iranian diplomat has been kidnapped by gunmen in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Tehran has confirmed. | An Iranian diplomat has been kidnapped by gunmen in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Tehran has confirmed. |
| Jalal Sharafi, the embassy's second secretary, was abducted from his car on Sunday in central Karrada district by men wearing Iraqi army uniforms. | Jalal Sharafi, the embassy's second secretary, was abducted from his car on Sunday in central Karrada district by men wearing Iraqi army uniforms. |
| Iran condemned the kidnapping and said it held the US responsible for his life. A US military spokesman said no US or Iraqi troops had been involved. | |
| The news comes amid US-Iranian tension over Iranian activities in Iraq. | The news comes amid US-Iranian tension over Iranian activities in Iraq. |
| Last month in a dramatic pre-dawn helicopter raid, the Americans detained five Iranians in northern Iraq, prompting Iran to issue a formal protest to the US. | Last month in a dramatic pre-dawn helicopter raid, the Americans detained five Iranians in northern Iraq, prompting Iran to issue a formal protest to the US. |
| The US has denied any involvement in the latest incident, but recently has been expressing increasing concern about alleged Iranian support for militant activity in Iraq. | The US has denied any involvement in the latest incident, but recently has been expressing increasing concern about alleged Iranian support for militant activity in Iraq. |
| Correspondents say the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme is adding to the tension. | Correspondents say the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme is adding to the tension. |
| On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of "a strategy to create maximum trouble" in the Middle East. | On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of "a strategy to create maximum trouble" in the Middle East. |
| Identification puzzle | Identification puzzle |
| Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told the Isna news agency that Mr Sharafi had been kidnapped by a group linked to Iraq's defence ministry "which works under the supervision of American forces". | Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told the Isna news agency that Mr Sharafi had been kidnapped by a group linked to Iraq's defence ministry "which works under the supervision of American forces". |
| We've checked with our units and it was not a [multinational forces - Iraq] unit that participated in that event Lt Col Christopher Garver,US military spokesman | We've checked with our units and it was not a [multinational forces - Iraq] unit that participated in that event Lt Col Christopher Garver,US military spokesman |
| "The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the American forces in Iraq responsible for the life and safety of the Iranian diplomat," he said. | "The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the American forces in Iraq responsible for the life and safety of the Iranian diplomat," he said. |
| Iraqi officials earlier said the gunmen were wearing uniforms of the Iraqi 36th Commando Battalion - a special Iraqi unit under US direction. | Iraqi officials earlier said the gunmen were wearing uniforms of the Iraqi 36th Commando Battalion - a special Iraqi unit under US direction. |
| US military spokesman in Baghdad, Lt Col Christopher Garver, could not confirm the diplomat's abduction. | US military spokesman in Baghdad, Lt Col Christopher Garver, could not confirm the diplomat's abduction. |
| However, he said: "We've checked with our units and it was not a [multinational forces - Iraq] unit that participated in that event." | However, he said: "We've checked with our units and it was not a [multinational forces - Iraq] unit that participated in that event." |
| Mr Sharafi was reportedly kidnapped outside the Baghdad branch of the Iranian state-owned Bank Melli. | Mr Sharafi was reportedly kidnapped outside the Baghdad branch of the Iranian state-owned Bank Melli. |
| But the details of the abduction are still confused. | But the details of the abduction are still confused. |
| Kidnapping 'common' | Kidnapping 'common' |
| An Iraqi government official told Associated Press news agency there had been a gun battle and a chase after the kidnapping but the car carrying the diplomat escaped. | An Iraqi government official told Associated Press news agency there had been a gun battle and a chase after the kidnapping but the car carrying the diplomat escaped. |
| RISING US-IRAN TENSION Dec 2006: US forces detain several Iranians in Iraq suspected of planning attacks. Iran says two are diplomats, who are later freed10 Jan: US President Bush says in a major speech he will take a tough stance on Iran, whom he accuses of destabilising Iraq11 Jan: US troops in Irbil raid a building Iran says was consulate, arresting five men18 Jan: Iran demands the release of the five "diplomats". The US says they are Revolutionary Guard arming Shia fighters Blair: No Iran attack planned | RISING US-IRAN TENSION Dec 2006: US forces detain several Iranians in Iraq suspected of planning attacks. Iran says two are diplomats, who are later freed10 Jan: US President Bush says in a major speech he will take a tough stance on Iran, whom he accuses of destabilising Iraq11 Jan: US troops in Irbil raid a building Iran says was consulate, arresting five men18 Jan: Iran demands the release of the five "diplomats". The US says they are Revolutionary Guard arming Shia fighters Blair: No Iran attack planned |
| Some men were captured but the New York Times quoted Iraqi officials as saying they had legitimate defence ministry identification. | Some men were captured but the New York Times quoted Iraqi officials as saying they had legitimate defence ministry identification. |
| An official told the paper the men may have kept the identification after being dismissed. It is not thought they are still being held. | An official told the paper the men may have kept the identification after being dismissed. It is not thought they are still being held. |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge, in Baghdad, says the fact that the kidnappers were wearing uniforms can mean anything in Baghdad. | The BBC's Mike Wooldridge, in Baghdad, says the fact that the kidnappers were wearing uniforms can mean anything in Baghdad. |
| Kidnapping is common - often criminal rather than political - and frequently carried out by people in some kind of official uniform, he says. | Kidnapping is common - often criminal rather than political - and frequently carried out by people in some kind of official uniform, he says. |
| But against the background of the ongoing disagreements between the US and Iran, this is quickly becoming another source of diplomatic tension, our correspondent adds. | But against the background of the ongoing disagreements between the US and Iran, this is quickly becoming another source of diplomatic tension, our correspondent adds. |
| Speaking to a committee of MPs in London, Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of "a strategy to create maximum trouble" in the Middle East. | Speaking to a committee of MPs in London, Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of "a strategy to create maximum trouble" in the Middle East. |
| Mr Blair said Tehran was trying to prevent reconciliation in Iraq. | Mr Blair said Tehran was trying to prevent reconciliation in Iraq. |
| "People are alarmed at the strategy they are pursuing," he said. | "People are alarmed at the strategy they are pursuing," he said. |