Tehran, 18 February 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has said the roughly 150 foreigners arrested recently on Iran's borders with Pakistan are not members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. Kharrazi said today that Iran is waiting to repatriate the individuals, arrested recently on the Pakistani border. He said there is no member of Al-Qaeda among them.
He said it is possible that some of these people supported one group or another but, according to Tehran's inquiries, they are not members of Al-Qaeda.
Reports last week said that Iran had arrested some 150 members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group, lending weight to U.S. assertions that the country was allowing Al-Qaeda members to escape into Iran.
He said it is possible that some of these people supported one group or another but, according to Tehran's inquiries, they are not members of Al-Qaeda.
Reports last week said that Iran had arrested some 150 members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group, lending weight to U.S. assertions that the country was allowing Al-Qaeda members to escape into Iran.