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/6536355.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US denies Iranian torture claim | US denies Iranian torture claim |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The US has denied claims made by an Iranian diplomat abducted in Iraq that he was tortured in captivity by people who included CIA agents. | The US has denied claims made by an Iranian diplomat abducted in Iraq that he was tortured in captivity by people who included CIA agents. |
| A US spokesman said Jalal Sharafi's allegations of an American role in his detention were "theatrics" from the "Iranian propaganda machine". | A US spokesman said Jalal Sharafi's allegations of an American role in his detention were "theatrics" from the "Iranian propaganda machine". |
| Mr Sharafi, second secretary at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, was freed last week. He was abducted in February. | |
| He said CIA agents had interrogated him on his country's role in Iraq. | |
| "The United States had nothing to do with Mr Sharafi's detention and we welcome his return to Iran," said Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman. | "The United States had nothing to do with Mr Sharafi's detention and we welcome his return to Iran," said Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman. |
| When faced with my responses on Iran's official ties with the Iraqi government they increased the torture Jalal Sharafi | When faced with my responses on Iran's official ties with the Iraqi government they increased the torture Jalal Sharafi |
| "This is just the latest theatrics of a government trying to deflect attention away from its own unacceptable actions," he said. | "This is just the latest theatrics of a government trying to deflect attention away from its own unacceptable actions," he said. |
| A US military spokesman in Baghdad also said that multinational forces had nothing to do with Mr Sharafi's kidnapping. | A US military spokesman in Baghdad also said that multinational forces had nothing to do with Mr Sharafi's kidnapping. |
| 'Increased the torture' | 'Increased the torture' |
| The Iranian envoy told the Irna state news agency he was subjected to torture "day and night". | The Iranian envoy told the Irna state news agency he was subjected to torture "day and night". |
| "I was kidnapped on a Baghdad street while shopping by officials who had Iraqi defence ministry ID cards and were riding in American forces vehicles," he said. | "I was kidnapped on a Baghdad street while shopping by officials who had Iraqi defence ministry ID cards and were riding in American forces vehicles," he said. |
| Mr Sharafi said he was taken from the Karrada district to a base near Baghdad airport and questioned in Arabic and English. | Mr Sharafi said he was taken from the Karrada district to a base near Baghdad airport and questioned in Arabic and English. |
| "The CIA officials' questions focused mainly on Iran's presence and influence in Iraq," he said. | "The CIA officials' questions focused mainly on Iran's presence and influence in Iraq," he said. |
| "When faced with my responses on Iran's official ties with the Iraqi government they increased the torture." | "When faced with my responses on Iran's official ties with the Iraqi government they increased the torture." |
| Iran's Fars news agency said: "He showed reporters the marks left by torture on his body that are now being treated by doctors." | Iran's Fars news agency said: "He showed reporters the marks left by torture on his body that are now being treated by doctors." |
| Mr Sharafi was freed on 3 April. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has said Baghdad does not know who held him. | Mr Sharafi was freed on 3 April. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has said Baghdad does not know who held him. |
| Diplomatic tension remains high between Washington and Tehran over the detention by US forces of five Iranians in the Iraqi city of Irbil in January. | Diplomatic tension remains high between Washington and Tehran over the detention by US forces of five Iranians in the Iraqi city of Irbil in January. |
| The US suspects them of aiding the Iraqi insurgency. Tehran says they have diplomatic status. | The US suspects them of aiding the Iraqi insurgency. Tehran says they have diplomatic status. |
| Iran this week released 15 UK sailors it had held for 13 days. | Iran this week released 15 UK sailors it had held for 13 days. |