Iran has said it is holding several senior members of Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network. The Intelligence Minister, Ali Yunesi, told reporters in Tehran that a large number of "small and big" members of al-Qaeda were in Iranian custody.
| I have visions of basketball player-types with Harmonicats swarming around their calves, only with turbans... I think I'll go have a drink. |
It is not clear how senior the detainees are, and the minister gave few details.
"How senior?"
"Very senior!" |
Earlier this year, the Iranians announced the arrest of a number of alleged al-Qaeda suspects, but rejected US allegations that senior figures of the network had taken refuge in Iran. President Bush has accused Iran and Syria of continuing to harbour terrorists - a charge which both countries reject. Mr Yunesi said that since the US-led war in Afghanistan that led to the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001, Iran had arrested "a large number of al-Qaeda members, some of whom have been expelled or handed over to their country of origin".
"How large?"
"Very large."
"What countries?"
"Diff'rent countries." |
He told reporters: "We are still holding many others."
The whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden are not known - or even whether he is definitely still alive. |