Iran hits back in worsening spat with Canada (accuses Vancouver PD of murder)

TEHRAN (AFP) - A defiant Iran hit back in a worsening diplomatic row with Canada, responding to Ottowa's recall of its ambassador over the death of an Iranian-Canadian in custody here by accusing Canadian police of killing an Iranian.

The fresh downturn in relations with a key proponent of dialogue with the Islamic regime came amid reports that Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites) had cancelled a visit to Belgium as Tehran's ties with Europe also ran into trouble.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said an Iranian national, whom he named as Kayvan Tabesh, had been killed in the western Canadian city of Vancouver on Wednesday.

Two Iranians had also been wounded in the "unjustifiable" incident, Asefi told state television.

"The Islamic republic will seek through diplomatic channels clear and convincing explanations of this crime," he said.

But the accusation was likely to further fuel Ottawa's anger over the death of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi, 54, following a still unexplained blow to the head while in police custody last month.

Canada recalled its ambassador Wednesday after Iran refused its requests for her body to be returned home for burial.

But Foreign Minister Bill Graham warned he did not rule out further sanctions. "We are looking at other measures that we can take," he said.

Kazemi's death, after she was arrested while photographing protests outside Tehran's Evin prison, has sparked outrage in Canada, particularly among its 250,000-strong Iranian community.

Tehran has been unrepentant throughout despite Ottawa's longstanding policy of engagement with the Islamic regime.

Iran has refused even to acknowledge Canada's interest in the affair as it does not recognize dual nationality.

The worsening row with Ottawa came as the government newspaper Iran reported Khatami had cancelled his planned visit to Belgium amid European pressure on Iran's nuclear programme and human rights record.

"It is possible that the cancellation of this visit is not unconnected to the recent attitude of the European Union (news - web sites), which made progress in relations with Iran conditional on its signature of the additional protocol (of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and respect for human rights," the paper said.

No official confirmation could be obtained of the cancellation of a visit which has never been announced officially here.

On July 11, Belgium's RTBF state radio said Khatami was to visit Belgium to receive an honorary doctorate from the university of Liege, probably in the autumn.

Iran Tuesday rejected "conditions or threats" attached to its negotiations with the EU, a day after foreign ministers expressed "increasing concern" over Iran's nuclear programme and warned the trade bloc would review relations with Tehran unless it cooperated fully with the UN's nuclear watchdog agency.

"More intense economic relations can be achieved only if progress is reached in the four areas of concern, namely human rights, terrorism, non-proliferation and the Middle East peace process," a joint EU statement said.

The ministers said they would "review future steps of the cooperation between the EU and Iran in September," adding that their next moves will depend on a report by the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei.

Iran is under strong international pressure to sign the additional NPT protocol to allow surprise inspections by the IAEA of its nuclear sites to show it is not developing atomic weapons.

Khatami warned Thursday that the issue was playing into the hands of hawks in Washington who wanted to follow the same policy of regime change in Iran that they have already implemented in Iraq (news - web sites).

"The Americans want to use the same pretexts against Iran," the reformist president told a public rally east of the capital.

By ROBERT MATAS
Friday, July 18, 2003 -

VANCOUVER -- Nasser Tabesh, father of an 18-year-old man shot to death by police this week in a Vancouver suburb, had been a decorated surgeon in the Iranian military for years before coming to Canada in August, 2000.

The dead man's mother, Forough Jabalameli, had been a chemist there; she now works for a Vancouver research firm. His sister Rita, who is now learning English, had been a microbiologist. His brother Kamyar is an engineering student at the University of British Columbia.

The family had a good life in Iran, Ms. Jabalameli said.

"I understand the necessity of freedom," she said yesterday. "But my son was shot by police here. The police should be supporting us, not shooting us."

Keyvan Tabesh, 18, was shot by a police officer in the Vancouver suburb of Port Moody at 2 a.m. Monday, shortly after an apparent road-rage incident on a nearby street, police said earlier this week.

His parents said yesterday a friend of their son's who was injured in the incident gave them an account that differed sharply from the police version of events.

Ms. Jabalameli said Amir Aghaei told them the police officer fired his gun while he was still in his car.

Keyvan Tabesh did not know it was a policeman who had confronted him, the parents were told.

The officer was dressed in street clothes and driving a vehicle without any police markings, they said. He shot at their son's heart and at his foot without identifying himself and without giving any warning shots, they said.

Keyvan's parents also said police did not tell them about their son's death until 7 p.m. Monday, 17 hours after it occurred.

Earlier this week, Constable Brian Soles, of the Port Moody police department, said Keyvan had used a machete to rip into the side of a vehicle that had blocked his way. After that incident was reported, police put out a call for other officers to watch out for Mr. Tabesh's car.

An officer investigating an armed robbery spotted Keyvan's car and followed him into a cul-de-sac. Constable Soles said Keyvan rushed out of his car at the officer, with the machete raised. A passenger in the car also got out of the car and ran toward the officer.

The officer fired five shots in self defence, Constable Soles said. Keyvan was killed and the passenger was wounded.

Mr. Tabesh's parents said Keyvan always carried something to defend himself after an incident that happened a few weeks after they arrived in Canada.

A person he did not know picked a fight with him, Ms. Jabalameli said. He was injured and received 18 stitches. After the other youth was arrested and charged, the family began receiving death threats, she said.

Since that encounter, her son never felt safe in Canada, Ms. Jabalameli said. "He thought he must be strong, so he could defend himself," she said.

Mr. Aghaei, who was still in hospital yesterday, gave Keyvan's parents an account of what happened.

"They thought a bad guy was chasing them and wanted to hurt them," Ms. Jabalameli said. "He [Amir] said Keyvan was very upset about why someone was following them."

Amir told Keyvan's parents that the officer did not say anything to them. She was told her son got out of the car with a knife -- rather than a machete -- but the officer did not get out of his car.

"He opened his window and shot. Amir got out of the car and ran, shouting: 'You are killing my friend.' And then he was shot too," Ms. Jabalameli said.

Constable Soles was not available for comment yesterday.

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