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Putin told of 'assassination bid' | Putin told of 'assassination bid' |
(9 minutes later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been warned of a plot to assassinate him during a visit to Iran this week, Kremlin officials have said. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has been warned of a plot to assassinate him during a visit to Iran this week, Kremlin officials have said. |
The Interfax news agency cited sources in the Russian special services saying a gang of suicide bombers would attempt to kill Mr Putin in Tehran. | The Interfax news agency cited sources in the Russian special services saying a gang of suicide bombers would attempt to kill Mr Putin in Tehran. |
Iran's foreign ministry dismissed the reports as "completely baseless". | Iran's foreign ministry dismissed the reports as "completely baseless". |
A Kremlin spokesman told Reuters there were no plans to cancel the trip to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | A Kremlin spokesman told Reuters there were no plans to cancel the trip to meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
During his visit, Mr Putin will also attend a summit of Caspian Sea nations. | During his visit, Mr Putin will also attend a summit of Caspian Sea nations. |
Mr Putin is currently in Germany meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel and is due to fly on to Tehran on Monday night. | Mr Putin is currently in Germany meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel and is due to fly on to Tehran on Monday night. |
'Erroneous reports' | 'Erroneous reports' |
Interfax reported that Russian special services said several groups of suicide bombers had been set up for the attack in Tehran. | Interfax reported that Russian special services said several groups of suicide bombers had been set up for the attack in Tehran. |
The reports in some media are completely baseless and part of a psychological war waged by enemies to disrupt relations between Iran and Russia Mohammed Ali HosseiniIranian foreign ministry | The reports in some media are completely baseless and part of a psychological war waged by enemies to disrupt relations between Iran and Russia Mohammed Ali HosseiniIranian foreign ministry |
The services had relied on information received from several sources outside the country, the agency said. | The services had relied on information received from several sources outside the country, the agency said. |
Kremlin deputy spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters the trip was still going ahead as far as he was aware. | Kremlin deputy spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters the trip was still going ahead as far as he was aware. |
"The information is being dealt with by the secret services... The president has been informed," he said. | "The information is being dealt with by the secret services... The president has been informed," he said. |
A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, Mohammed Ali Hosseini, said the reports were completely baseless and "part of a psychological war waged by enemies to disrupt relations between Iran and Russia". | A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, Mohammed Ali Hosseini, said the reports were completely baseless and "part of a psychological war waged by enemies to disrupt relations between Iran and Russia". |
"Such erroneous reports will have no effect on the programme already decided upon for Mr Putin's visit to Tehran," he said. | "Such erroneous reports will have no effect on the programme already decided upon for Mr Putin's visit to Tehran," he said. |
Correspondents say Moscow and Tehran have good relations and Russia is helping to build the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran. | Correspondents say Moscow and Tehran have good relations and Russia is helping to build the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran. |
'Radical organisations' | 'Radical organisations' |
A member of the Russian parliament's security committee, Gennadiy Gudkov, said the reports were likely to have a "fairly high level of reliability". | A member of the Russian parliament's security committee, Gennadiy Gudkov, said the reports were likely to have a "fairly high level of reliability". |
"For me this report has not come as a big revelation, because, unfortunately, today there are enough radical organisations, forces and movements of an extremist nature, oriented against Russia, which would like to settle a score with the Russian president," he told the state-owned Russian news channel, Vesti TV. | "For me this report has not come as a big revelation, because, unfortunately, today there are enough radical organisations, forces and movements of an extremist nature, oriented against Russia, which would like to settle a score with the Russian president," he told the state-owned Russian news channel, Vesti TV. |
"There are certainly organisations of this kind in Tehran, which in recent times has unfortunately been a stronghold of radical Islamic organisations," he said. | "There are certainly organisations of this kind in Tehran, which in recent times has unfortunately been a stronghold of radical Islamic organisations," he said. |
Russian officials have said several plots to assassinate Mr Putin on foreign trips have been uncovered since he became president in December 1999. | Russian officials have said several plots to assassinate Mr Putin on foreign trips have been uncovered since he became president in December 1999. |
Shortly after his election, Ukrainian security services said they had foiled an attempt to kill Mr Putin at an informal summit of former Soviet republics in Yalta. | Shortly after his election, Ukrainian security services said they had foiled an attempt to kill Mr Putin at an informal summit of former Soviet republics in Yalta. |
In 2003, police in London said they had arrested two men in connection with another plot to assassinate him. | In 2003, police in London said they had arrested two men in connection with another plot to assassinate him. |