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Iran to try 'some' al-Qaeda suspects
Iran could put on trial some members of Osama Bin Laden's network it currently holds in custody, officials say.
"If their nationalities are not clear and no country takes them, we will do what the Intelligence Minister [Ali Yunesi] has said and will deal with them inside the country," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters on Monday.
Mr Yunesi was quoted by local media on Saturday as saying some al-Qaeda members whose citizenship had been revoked by their native countries would be put on trial in Iran.
But the Iranian Government has refused to reveal the identities of the men it allegedly holds - and there has been no clarification on any extradition attempts.
Mr Asefi also said Iran will try those al-Qaeda suspects who have committed crimes in Iran.
Last month, Iran's intelligence minister said a large number of "small and big" members of al-Qaeda were in Iranian custody.
Seniority question
Iran has arrested "a fair number" of the network since the fall of the Taleban and has already expelled some and sent back many others back to their countries of origin, Mr Yunesi said in July.
It is not clear how senior the detainees are.
There has been speculation that al-Qaeda spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghaith could be one of those detained after Kuwait said earlier this month it had turned down an offer by Iran to repatriate him.
Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah Mr Abu Ghaith's Kuwaiti citizenship had been withdrawn following the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Iran first revealed in June it had a number of al-Qaeda suspects in custody and that it had identified some of them.
Reports at the time said the men included Osama Bin Laden's son, Saad Bin Laden, and also his security chief Saif al-Adel, regarded by some as al-Qaeda's current number three leader.
President Bush accuses Iran and Syria of continuing to harbour terrorists - a charge both countries reject.
Washington believes the suicide attacks in Riyadh in May were planned by al-Qaeda operatives in Iran - a charge that Tehran denies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3141245.stm
Iran could put on trial some members of Osama Bin Laden's network it currently holds in custody, officials say.
"If their nationalities are not clear and no country takes them, we will do what the Intelligence Minister [Ali Yunesi] has said and will deal with them inside the country," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters on Monday.
Mr Yunesi was quoted by local media on Saturday as saying some al-Qaeda members whose citizenship had been revoked by their native countries would be put on trial in Iran.
But the Iranian Government has refused to reveal the identities of the men it allegedly holds - and there has been no clarification on any extradition attempts.
Mr Asefi also said Iran will try those al-Qaeda suspects who have committed crimes in Iran.
Last month, Iran's intelligence minister said a large number of "small and big" members of al-Qaeda were in Iranian custody.
Seniority question
Iran has arrested "a fair number" of the network since the fall of the Taleban and has already expelled some and sent back many others back to their countries of origin, Mr Yunesi said in July.
It is not clear how senior the detainees are.
There has been speculation that al-Qaeda spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghaith could be one of those detained after Kuwait said earlier this month it had turned down an offer by Iran to repatriate him.
Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah Mr Abu Ghaith's Kuwaiti citizenship had been withdrawn following the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Iran first revealed in June it had a number of al-Qaeda suspects in custody and that it had identified some of them.
Reports at the time said the men included Osama Bin Laden's son, Saad Bin Laden, and also his security chief Saif al-Adel, regarded by some as al-Qaeda's current number three leader.
President Bush accuses Iran and Syria of continuing to harbour terrorists - a charge both countries reject.
Washington believes the suicide attacks in Riyadh in May were planned by al-Qaeda operatives in Iran - a charge that Tehran denies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3141245.stm
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