Posted on 10/01/2005 11:10:15 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
TORONTO - The Department of Foreign Affairs denied yesterday what it called the "baseless accusations" that Canada was behind a bombing campaign in the Iranian city of Ahwaz that left seven dead.
As a heated war of words continued between Ottawa and Tehran, an Iranian prosecutor was quoted yesterday as saying that Canada had trained and supported bombers who struck the oil-rich city in June.
"These accusations are totally without foundation," Marie-Christine Lilkoff, a Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, said in a written statement. "Canada does not support terrorism in any way in Iran or anywhere else. We have in fact taken a very firm stand against terrorist organizations active against Iran itself."
She was responding to a news item on an Iranian Web site quoting Seyyed Khalil Akbar, chief prosecutor for Iran's Khuzekstan province, accusing Canada and Britain of backing those behind the Ahwaz bombings.
"The Khuzestan bombers were in contact with Britain and Canada and were being backed by them," he was quoted as saying in an address to a gathering of provincial prosecutors.
"The primary individuals responsible for the bombings were Iranian and were supported by foreign forces. They had received training in Britain and Canada and were in contact with these countries via the Internet and mail."
Several Canadians are known members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq, an armed group fighting to overthrow the Islamic regime in Tehran. Canada placed the group on its list of outlawed terrorist organizations in May.
But Ms. Lilkoff said Iran had provided no information about any Canadian role in the bombings through official channels. "The Government of Iran has not approached Canada in any way regarding these baseless accusations," she said.
Canada has been talking tough with Iran in recent months over human-rights abuses and Tehran's nuclear program. The major irritant remains Iran's refusal to accommodate Ottawa's demands over the death of Zahra Kazemi, 54, a Canadian photographer who was murdered and raped while in Iranian custody in 2003.
The back-and-forth continued yesterday in the House of Commons, where Liberal MP Mario Silva condemned the "continued abuses of the most basic human rights in Iran."
He mentioned the case of two gay teenagers who had been executed. "The reality is that gays and lesbians in Iran are subject to appalling human-rights abuse. These young men lost their lives for being gay. The fact that they were as young as they were meant their execution was in violation of international conventions to which Iran is a signatory.
"People across the world must speak out in outrage at these."
CANADA, they accused CANADA. Have they forgotten the great Satan?
Good heavens! This isn't our fault?
it is Canada's fault ping!
Maybe it was meant facetiously. Persians being notorious exporters of comedy.
Good heavens! This isn't our fault?
HEHE Whatever happened to that Iraqi terrorist group that did stuff against Iran?
So now its the war mongering Canadians thats behind it all, EH?
You mean to say we are finally doing something right?
Canada ping!
Please let me know if you want on or off this Canada ping list.
Uh-oh! We better get gay marriage voted in quick, or Canadia will start bombing us, too!
It is so refreshing for a country other than the U.S. to be blamed from time to time. Of course, I'd prefer if it had been France, but I'll take what I can get.
I KNEW it!!! Take a closer look at the facts:
1. Their national anthem calls for world take over-- "[G]O CANADA"
2. The Maple Leaf on their flag points in ALL directions. Again, more proof of a world take over. Notice how this article mentions the "leaf" being carefully placed onto soldier's uniforms as badges, and on army equipment, etc:
During the First World War, the maple leaf was included in the badge of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Since 1921, the Royal Arms of Canada have included three maple leaves as a distinctive Canadian emblem. With the proclamation of Canada's new flag in 1965, the maple leaf has become the most-prominent Canadian symbol.
In 1939, at the time of World War II, many Canadian troops used the maple leaf as a distinctive sign, displaying it on regimental badges and Canadian army and naval equipment.
In 1957, the colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red, one of Canada's official colours.
You see? The Maple Leaf changed from GREEN to RED!!! Another GO Signal. I'm telling you that the Mad Mullah's of IRAN are on to something!!!!
[enter rolling eyes icon here]
The notion that any Western nation is "training" the MEK is preposterous.
In fact, no nation-state is supporting them, now that Saddam Hussein has been deposed.
The IRI is p*ssed because we wouldn't hand over members of the militia we had disarmed to their government, which shouldn't come as a surprise, since the concept of due process doesn't exist in that country.
The last time we handed over suspected war criminals-many of whom were simply anti-Soviet resistance fighters from white Russia and men who had been conscripted into the Wermacht-was in the aftermath of WWII.
And we all know what happened to them.
"Several Canadians are known members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq, an armed group fighting to overthrow the Islamic regime in Tehran. Canada placed the group on its list of outlawed terrorist organizations in May"
I think we have members of the same group in Australia, if they keep up the good work they are doing, I might consider sending them a donation!
Nailed it!
Always possible. Another logical explanation is that Canada's control and knowledge of its own territory is so lax that there are any number of terrorist groups training up here. Wouldn't be the first time.
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