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/6967850.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
US frees seven Baghdad Iranians | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US forces have released seven Iranians who were detained in a swoop on a hotel in Baghdad, Iraqi officials say. | |
The men were seized overnight from one of the main hotels in the capital and led away blindfolded and in handcuffs. | |
The Iranian embassy in the city said the men were helping rebuild electricity power stations in Iraq. | |
The Iraqi government helped secure their release early on Wednesday, a spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri Maliki told the BBC. | |
The group was detained at the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel. Video footage showed soldiers leading the men out of the building. | The group was detained at the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel. Video footage showed soldiers leading the men out of the building. |
'Murderous activities' | 'Murderous activities' |
Other soldiers were seen carrying what appeared to be luggage and a laptop computer bag. | |
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad said Tehran insisted the men were technicians from the Iranian electricity ministry and had been helping fix a power station in Najaf. | |
The arrests followed a speech by US President George W Bush in which he criticised Iranian interference in Iraq. | |
Tensions between the US and Iran are running high - with the US accusing Iran of providing arms, money and military training to Shia insurgents in Iraq. | |
Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere - we will confront this danger before it is too late US President Bush | Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere - we will confront this danger before it is too late US President Bush |
President Bush stated that he had authorised his military commanders in Iraq to confront what he called Iran's "murderous activities" in the country. | President Bush stated that he had authorised his military commanders in Iraq to confront what he called Iran's "murderous activities" in the country. |
"Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere. We will confront this danger before it is too late," Mr Bush said. | "Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere. We will confront this danger before it is too late," Mr Bush said. |
The president also said the entire region would be under the shadow of a "nuclear holocaust" if Iran developed nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. | The president also said the entire region would be under the shadow of a "nuclear holocaust" if Iran developed nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. |
Earlier, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said US power in Iraq was on the verge of collapse and this would lead to "a huge vacuum" which Iran would be willing to fill. | |
In January, five Iranians - who the US say are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and were training militants in Iraq - were captured in the northern city of Irbil. They remain in US custody. | |