Last update - 00:00 16/12/2007
Iran to Azerbaijan: Show proof for claims of spying on Israel
By The Associated Press
Tehran on Sunday demanded that Azerbaijan provide evidence to back up the convictions of more than a dozen people found guilty of passing information about Western interests to Iranian intelligence.
Azerbaijan's National Security Ministry said Saturday that the 15 people provided information to Iran regarding American, British and Israeli activities in the former Soviet republic. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday dismissed the allegations as baseless.
"They raised a delusory accusation against Iran, and made propaganda based on it," Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters in Tehran during his weekly news briefing.
Hosseini said it would be better if Azerbaijan would provide evidence to Iran and accused foreign hands of wanting to disturb good relations between the two countries.
"We should not allow others to damage these relations," Hosseini said.
An Azerbaijan court sentenced the 15 men to lengthy prison terms last week in a case that highlighted Azerbaijan's concern over the influence of neighboring Iran.
In a statement released Saturday, the National Security Ministry revealed new details about the group, which allegedly passed to Iranian agents details on Western embassies, companies, pipeline operations and employees operating in Azerbaijan in 2005-2006.
The 15 were arrested in January on suspicion of crimes including plotting to forcefully seize power, treason, organizing a criminal group, possession of weapons and drugs, and counterfeiting.
Said Dadashbeyli, the alleged leader who worked at a U.S.-Azerbaijani drilling company, sought Iranian support for a plot to seize power in Azerbaijan and establish Islamic law in the oil-rich country.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, along with two other group members, while the rest received sentences ranging from two years to 13, the court said.
Dadashbeyli's lawyer said the charges were unfounded.
Predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan has increasingly been caught in a tug-of-war for influence between the secular, democratic West and its large southern neighbor.
Rumblings of Shiite political Islam have been particularly noticeable in the more conservative regions that border Iran, and the secular government has displayed concern over Iranian influence.
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