Iraqi Foreign Minister confirms release of kidnapped Iranian diplomat
Iran blamed U.S. forces in Iraq for his disappearance 2 months ago; U.S. denied any role in kidnapping.
By News AgenciesIraq's foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday that an Iranian diplomat kidnapped in Baghdad two months ago had been released.
Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms seized Jalal Sharafi, second secretary at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, on February 4. Tehran blamed the U.S. military, which denied any involvement.
"I can confirm that he has been freed and is in good health," Hoshiyar Zebari said.
"We made tremendous efforts to free him. All sides had denied holding him, which made it more difficult. But we kept the pressure up on everybody."
Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Sharafi had already arrived back in Iran.
Asked who had snatched the diplomat, Zebari said: "Only he knows who was holding him."
Zebari said Iraq's government was also trying to secure the release of five Iranians who were detained by U.S. forces during a raid on an Iranian government office in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil on January 11.
Tehran says the five are diplomats. The United States has previously said they were backing militants.
"I am in constant contact with the Americans to release them. We always hear from them good pledges that they will be released," Zebari said.
The abduction took place as tension mounted between Iran and the United States over alleged Iranian support of Shiite extremists in Iraq and U.S. efforts to force Tehran to stop enriching uranium - a process that can produce material for nuclear reactors or bombs.
It also occurred nearly a month after U.S. troops detained five Iranians in northern Iraq and accused them of having links to a network backing armed Shiite groups.
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G Bush might indeed be a deranged maniac, per Mark Lincoln, though I think 'moronic half-man, half-chimp' might be more apt. In all events I think the cretinous theocrats who currently run Iran are even more dangerous. I therefore think that we must think of this as a 'one viper will devour' another sort of affair, with GWB playing the role of devouring viper (& useful idiot). Key will be to ensure that he does precisely what is needed and no more. That means actual destruction of all Iranian military capacity from the air. But it also means (a) providing advanced warning in order that Iranian miltary facilities might be evacuated, (b) warning that any form or retaliation will be met with destruction of additional infrastructures (still with warning time for evacuation), (c) studious avoidance of 'collateral' damage, (d) not attempting any occupation, & (e) getting the hell out of Iraq.
Only Jalal Sharafi knows who captured him says the Iranians. True, and we can add that will be kept a secret as Americans will be blamed for his kidnapping. Now, Johnson in captivity could write Jalal Sharafi's press conference speech for him from the room where he is being presently held and Jalal Sharafi could write Johnson's press statement instead of his own in return. Facts? Facts? We don't need no stinking facts. The only 'fact' you need to know is that Jews and Americans are guilty whatever the circumstances. And the UN will pass a Resolution to say so.
If the deranged maniac George Bush attacks Iran, which side do you think Iraq will support?
How did the Brits manage to "release" the kidnapped guy if they were not the kidnappers to begin with?
Click, I am ashamed of our two governments. Bush and Blair represent the worst that our countries have to offer. What did I say yesterday? How can one trust these people? I agree with you that this is most curious and strange. How sad and strange is the fact that while our governments are trying to install democracy and the respect for truth in other lands, they fail so miserably at home?. James McMahon
Can it be a part of some kind of deal with the British with their naval officers held by Iranians!!! Hmmmm...I wonder!
"An Iranian diplomat kidnapped two months ago in Iraq has been released.... The Iraqi government said it did not know who had abducted Sharafi, but Shiite lawmakers said he had been taken by an Iraqi commando unit that reports to the U.S. command - an allegation strongly denied by U.S. spokesmen" It is curious that Blair today has suggested that important things are going on behind the scenes which may lead to the release of the 15 British naval personnel.