Special report:
Tension
escalates in Iraq
Special report:
Iran Nuclear
Crisis
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Iraqi soldiers check motorists at a
checkpoint in Baghdad, Feb. 6, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iranian diplomat's
fate, who was kidnapped by gunmen in Baghdad Sunday night,
remains unclear, despite Iran confirmed the kidnapping Tuesday and
said the gunmen "acted under U.S. supervision," according to media
reports Wednesday.
Some 30 gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms in more
than 10 military vehicles kidnapped Jalal Sharafi, the second secretary of the
Iranian embassy, while he was driving through Masbah,
near the Baghdad's Karradah neighborhood.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini
said the gunmen are "linked to the Iraqi Defense Ministry" and
the kidnapping "was operated under the supervision of U.S. forces
there."
"Iran holds America responsible for the safety and life of
the (abducted) diplomat," said Hosseini, "This aggressive action violates the
international law and Iran strongly condemns it."
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had ordered to
investigate the fate of the diplomat, added Hosseini.
However, the U.S. authorities have denied any role in the
matter. "We don't really know a whole lot about it at this point," White House
spokesman Tony Snow said on Tuesday. "We know that the Iraqi government is
investigating."
The abduction occurred as tension between Iran and
the United States is mounting over alleged Iranian support of Shiite faction in
Iraq and U.S. efforts to force Tehran to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons
program. Iran said it wants to use the technology to generate nuclear power.
This is not the first time Iran's diplomats were kidnapped
in recent days. Last month, the U.S. forces in Iraq raided the Iranian consulate
in Iraq's northern city of Arbil and arrested five of its staff members,
accusing them of supporting Iraqi insurgents to fight with coalition forces. The
arrested Iranian are still in custody.
(Agencies)
