Iranian Alert -- October 28, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The Iranian Student Movement Up To The Minute Reports ^ | 10.28.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

The US media almost entirely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” But most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. Starting June 10th of this year, Iranians have begun taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy. Many even want the US to over throw their government.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

DoctorZin

PS I have a daily ping list and a breaking news ping list. If you would like to receive alerts to these stories please let me know which list you would like to join.

[blackie]

Free Iran ~ Now!

[F14 Pilot]

Thanks for your supports!

[F14 Pilot]

Iran reformists denounce judges

By Jim Muir
BBC correspondent in Tehran

A commission of the reformist-dominated parliament in Iran has called for a judicial investigation into the Tehran prosecutor's role in the case of Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian-Iranian journalist who died in July from a blow to the head after being arrested in June.

The case has stirred bitter recriminations between the hardline judiciary and reformist bodies.

Although it has gone to trial, President Mohammed Khatami has publicly criticised the way the case has been handled by the judiciary.

The long-awaited report by the parliament's Article 90 Commission, which deals with press freedoms, was read out in the chamber despite objections from right-wingers.

It recited a litany of what it portrayed as irregularities and abuses by the Tehran prosecutor, Judge Saeed Mortazavi.

It accused him of tampering with evidence, suborning witnesses and subverting the course of the investigation in many other ways.

It said he had also refused to appear before the commission itself, which was a violation of the constitution.

It concluded by referring its own report to the special disciplinary court for judges, calling for an investigation into what it called the violations by the Tehran prosecutor and by other judges who it said had acted illegally in the case.

Fuelling tensions

It's an extraordinary situation in which Iran's largely reformist parliament is essentially accusing the judiciary of perverting the course of justice in a case which has already gone to trial.

The death of Zahra Kazemi has greatly aggravated tensions between reformists and the hardliners who call the shots at the judiciary and publication of the commission's report is likely to add further fuel to the fire.

An interrogator of the Intelligence Ministry, which is largely reformist these days, appeared in court three weeks ago accused of the quasi-intentional killing of Mrs Kazemi - a charge he vigorously denied.

Just one day after the trial began, President Khatami himself publicly questioned the way the case was being handled and also hinted that the Tehran prosecutor's role should be examined.

Right-wingers who tried to stop the commission's report being read out in parliament argued that it would damage the country's image.

But the Speaker ruled that the case had already done that and that nothing could be gained by trying to cover it up at this stage.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3220173.stm

[blackie]

I'm here to serve.

[F14 Pilot]

Statoil CEO denies involvement in Iran scandal

Forbes Magazine

OSLO, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The acting chief executive of
Norwegian oil group Statoil denied a report on Tuesday
that he had been directly involved in a scandal over suspected bribes to win contracts in Iran.

"I have not participated in the establishment of the...agreement," Statoil spokeswoman Wenche Skorge quoted CEO Inge Hansen as saying.

The Internet version of the Norwegian business daily Dagens
Naeringsliv quoted a former Statoil employee as saying that
Hansen had been directly involved. Norwegian police are probing the planned $15.2 million payment to London-based consultants.

http://www.forbes.com/home_europe/newswire/2003/10/28/rtr1125365.html

[DoctorZIn]

Washington Prepared to Resume Contacts with Iran

October 28, 2003
Reuters
Reuters.com

WASHINGTON -- The United States said on Tuesday it was prepared to resume limited contacts with the Iranian government but relations would not improve until the Iranians share intelligence about al Qaeda members in Iran.

"We are prepared to engage in limited discussions with the government of Iran about areas of mutual interest as appropriate."

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in testimony prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We have not, however, entered into any broad dialogue with the aim of normalizing relations," he added.

"We are prepared to meet again in the future, but only if that would serve U.S. interests," he said.

U.S. officials met several times with Iranian officials in Geneva earlier this year but the United States called off a meeting scheduled in May because it believed Iran was sheltering members of al Qaeda, the organization blamed for the September 2001 attacks on the United States.

In his prepared statement, Armitage did not explicitly link resuming contacts with progress on the al Qaeda dispute.

But he did link cooperation on al Qaeda with the future of relations between the two countries, which have not had diplomatic ties since soon after the revolution of 1979.

"Despite public statements that they would cooperate with other countries, the Iranians have refused repeated requests to turn over or share intelligence about all al Qaeda members and leaders they claim to have in custody," Armitage said.

"As the president (George W. Bush) made clear last week, Iran must change its course on this front: resolution of this issue would be an important step in U.S.-Iranian relations and we cannot move forward without this step," he added.

On Sunday Iran said it had given the names of extradited al Qaeda suspects to the U.N. Security Council but declined to give any details of detainees remaining within the country.

The Islamic republic has said that any al Qaeda suspects whose nationality could be identified would be tried in Iran.

It has ruled out handing over any al Qaeda members to the United States but says it would extradite some of those it has arrested to unspecified "friendly countries."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3706271

[DoctorZIn]

Washington Prepared to Resume Contacts with Iran

October 28, 2003
Reuters
Reuters.com

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1009488/posts?page=26#26

This does not look good. Most of the people in Iran will see this as legitimizing an illegitimate regime. In other words, our turning our back towards those in Iran seeking a regime change. -- DoctorZin

[the Real fifi]

How can we make out positions--i.e. on the border crossings clear--without speaking to them? How can Bush persuade the American people that he has done everything he can to avoid war with Iran, if he refuses to even communicate our disagreements with them? Just so they don't go back to that crap about dealing with the "reformist" elements in the Mullahcracy , I have no problem with this and neither should those wanting freedom.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you for the pings, and for keeping us informed about Iran.

Richard Armitage may have been playing to the pro-UN Senate Foreign Relation Committee. We need Jesse Helms.

Pinging the crew to posts #11: how a good, swift air attack on Syria could prevent foreign terrorists from coming into Iraq, #16: last week's great survey re. future Iraq business prospects, #20: CinC's warning to Syria and Iran.
~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[blackie]

Freedom for the Iranian people ~ Now!

[DoctorZIn]

IRAN SAY IT WOULD NOT EXTRADITE TERRORISTS TO THE UNITED STATES

TEHRAN, 28 Oct. (IPS)

The Islamic Republic rejected Tuesday American demand to extradite members of the terrorist al-Qa’eda organisation it says are in its custody, stressing that in case their nationalities are not determined, they would be tried in Iran itself.

Earlier on the week Mr. Colin Powell, the United States Secretary of State had urged Tehran to hand over to American courts the al-Qa’eda operatives held by Iran or be turned to their countries of origin.

Mr. Powell made the demand after Iran announced on Sunday that it had provided the United Nations the names of 225 people suspected of being members of al-Qa’eda, the organisation believed to have masterminded the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, changing the face of the world’s politics and economy.

Describing Mr. Powell’s demand as "irrelevant", Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry senior spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran would not extradite these people to the United States, stressing that the two countries had no formal diplomatic relations.

"The al-Qa’eda operatives currently in our custody have committed crimes in Iran and they would be either tried here or be send to their country of origin", he added, quoted by Tehran radio.

As usual, the Iraqi-born Asefi did not say how many alleged terrorists were in Iranian prisons and reiterated that Iran would not reveal the number and names of them for security reasons.

Powell had indicated that Washington was seeking clarification of the information Iran had provided to the United Nations.

U.S. intelligence suggests that al-Qa’eda figures in Iran include Saif al-Adl, a top al-Qa’eda agent possibly connected to May bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Abu Mohammed al-Masri, wanted in connection with the bombings of two U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998; Abu Musab Zarqawi, whom some U.S. officials describe as the key link between al-Qaida and toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ; and Osama Ben Laden's eldest son, Sa’ad, the American news agency Associated Press said.

American counter-terrorism officials said last week that a handful of senior al-Qa’eda operatives who fled to Iran after the war in Afghanistan two years ago may have developed a working relationship with a secretive military unit linked to Iran's religious hard-liners.

"But the U.S. government is not certain of the extent of any contacts with the Iranian unit, called the Qods Force", the agency quoted an American official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The al-Qaida operatives are believed to have fled to Iran from neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan after the fall of the former Taleban regime of Afghanistan under massive American bombardment in 2001.

According to Mr. Asefi, Iran has also informed the United Nations Security Council about 2,300 people who entered Iran from Pakistan and Afghanistan between October 2002 and July 2003, adding that most of them were deported back to Pakistan. ENDS IRAN ALQA’EDA 281003

http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2003/Oct-2003/iran_alqaeda_281003.htm

[DoctorZIn]

LEADING AZERI JOURNALIST ARRESTED

BAKU 28 Oct. (IPS)

Authorities in Azerbaijan have arrested Rauf Arifoglu, editor of the opposition Yeni Musavat newspaper, alleging that he helped organize post-presidential election disturbances in the capital Baku, the informed internet website Eurasianet reported.

According to Eurasianet, the arrest occurred as the executive committee of the opposition Musavat Party formally refused to recognize the results of the 15 October Presidential election that confirmed the victory of Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the 42 years-old son of Heydar Aliyev, the present Azeri President who is hospitalised in the United States.

Prior to being jailed, Arifoglu, who is also a top Musavat Party official, spent almost 4 hours answering questions from Azerbaijani prosecutors, the Turan news agency reported October 27. According to Arifoglu’s attorney, Samad Panahov, the newspaper editor was charged with two criminal code violations, including conspiracy to organize an unauthorized demonstration.

The editor faces up to 90 days in jail, Panahov told Turan.

Arifoglu’s arrest underscores that the government’s crackdown against opposition activists is ongoing. Hundreds have been arrested in connection with the rioting that followed Ilham’s hotly disputed victory that some International observers said was tainted by fraud.

One of the prime targets of government pressure has been Mr. Isa Gambar, the Musavat Party leader, who finished a distant second to Aliyev in the official Central Election Commission voting results. Some exit polls, however, indicated that Gambar should have received more votes than Aliyev.

On 27 October 27, the Musavat Party executive committee, or divan, held its first session since the election and voted not to recognize the election results "due to [their] total falsification", Turan reported.

Gambar, who has been under virtual house arrest since the election, did not participate in the session, which was chaired by the party’s first deputy chairman, Vurgun Eyyub. According to Turan, 17 of the executive committee’s 24 members participated in the session.

"We urge all the parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from further violence", State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, referring to post-election unrest and the detention of scores of opposition figures.

Boucher repeated concerns expressed last week by the department about flaws that cast doubt on the credibility of the election results.

"These included inaccurate and incomplete voter lists, cases of coercion and other irregularities", he told reporters, calling for "immediate, independent, thorough and transparent investigation of all the violations".

Police in the oil-rich republic of Azerbaijan arrested score of people who demonstrated against the results, urging for another round of elections.

Mr. Aliyev won more than 76.8 percent of the vote in last week's election while Gambar, his nearest rival, garnered just under 14 percent, according to official final results. ENDS AZERI JOURNALIST ARRESTED 281003

http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2003/Oct-2003/azeri_journalist_arrested_281003.htm

[PhilDragoo]

Iran's interest in nuclear weapons may be offensive

The Pope may be Catholic.

[PhilDragoo]

"We are prepared to meet again in the future, but only if that would serve U.S. interests," he said.

Turn over al Qaeda and open up for inspections.

Otherwise, "limited discussions" means we haven't made an overt declaration of war.

[nuconvert]

"The parliament condemned Mr. Mortazavi for failing to respond to several questions justifying Ms. Kazemi's detention and refusing to attend parliamentary sessions to offer explanations."
"The report also paves the way for the questioning and even possible trial of Mr. Mortazavi over the murder."

YEAH!!!!!!!!

[F14 Pilot]

US reminds Syria, Iran to watch Iraq borders

The World Today - Wednesday, 29 October , 2003
Rafael Epstein

ELIZABETH JACKSON: In Iraq, there have been more attacks on US-backed forces overnight and the US Army revealed Baghdad's Deputy Mayor was killed in a drive-by shooting on the weekend.

As a suicide bomber killed himself and at least four others in the northern town of Fallujah, President George W. Bush was reminding Iraq's neighbours not to let in any foreign fighters who Washington thinks are helping attack its soldiers.

The warning to Iran and Syria followed the bloodiest day in Baghdad since the end of major hostilities, when 35 people died in near-simultaneous attacks on the Red Cross and various police stations.

At the same time, the US has indicated that it may once again take part in rare talks with Tehran to discuss the alleged flow of foreign fighters and other issues "of common interest", as Rafael Epstein reports.

RAFAEL EPSTEIN: According to a newspaper in Kuwait, the US authorities in Iraq believe large numbers of al-Qaeda fighters from Saudi Arabia are using Iranian territory as their route into Iraq.

The US authorities there also believe al-Qaeda fighters come from Pakistan's Baluchistan region and from Afghanistan's Herat province, staying for a while in Iran before moving into the north of Iraq.

US President George W. Bush gave little away today, when he was asked what Iran and Syria were actually doing to stem the supposed flow.

GEORGE W. BUSH: Well, we're working closely with those countries to let them know that we expect them to enforce borders, prevent people from coming across borders, if in fact we catch them doing that.

RAFAEL EPSTEIN: After the end of major hostilities there were reportedly hundreds of foreign fighters. Now, anonymous US Pentagon officials are telling Reuters there could be as many as 3,000 of them in Iraq.

They say such information is based on interrogations of people detained in Iraq who are familiar with the flow of fighters from Syria and Iran. They say al-Qaeda groups in Iraq are supposedly called, "Jundullah" or "Warriors of God" and al-Usud, "the Lions".

It's all impossible to confirm or corroborate, although various media groups have conducted interviews with people calling themselves "foreign fighters" who back up some and sometimes all such claims.

It's all been given immediacy by Iraq's Police Chief, Ahmed Ibrahim. He says a man who was shot while trying to detonate a suicide car bomb was carrying a Syrian passport.

President Bush again.

GEORGE W. BUSH: There are now more Iraqis patrolling the border and that is why it is important that we step up training for Iraqis, border patrol agents, so they can enforce their own borders.

RAFAEL EPSTEIN: US politicians are pushing for action against both Iran and Syria. While the House of Representatives passed a bill that will place economic and diplomatic sanctions on Syria, in response Iran's already saying it will financially support Damascus if the bill becomes law.

It all complicates the international community's push to get Iran to accept more inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Just before President Bush spoke, his Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage outlined how the administration may deal with Iran's previous reluctance to allow inspections.

RICHARD ARMITAGE: Clearly, Iran has been in non-compliance. It should be found that way, but whether you would take the non-compliance and move them towards the UN Security Council and possibly sanctions or put them on probation or give them an ankle bracelet, this sort of, as they do to people on…in, in sort of house arrest, those are things that we have to consider and consider with our colleagues in Europe and the non-aligned movement.

It's the most important thing, I think, at having gotten the solidarity thus far we have to maintain it.

RAFAEL EPSTEIN: While Iran and Syria both insist they can't stop people crossing their borders, Iran's given money for Iraq's reconstruction and it's also offered to give up some of its oil until the new country gets its infrastructure back in shape.

And Damascus is aiming to sign a trade agreement with the EU by the end of the year. Syria does far more trade with Europe than it does with North America.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Rafael Epstein with that report.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s977774.htm

[DoctorZIn]

U.S. Wary of Any Iraq-Iran Energy Deals

October 28, 2003
Reuters
Reuters.com

WASHINGTON -- The United States said on Tuesday it would be concerned about any energy or oil swap deals between Iran and the Iraqi state oil authorities.

Iraqi officials said on Tuesday they were seeking to secure supplies of liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene from Iran to help fend off a heating fuel shortage this winter.

The potential deal signals early efforts to restore energy trading links between the two countries, which fought an eight-year war in the 1980s.

A deal could also clear the way for Iran's bigger proposal to help rebuild Iraq with a crude oil swap.

But State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We have a lot of concerns about Iranian behavior that would lead us to be concerned. There would be issues that have to be examined with regard to any such arrangement with Iran."

Boucher noted that Iraq is receiving electricity from a Turkish producer in exchange for Iraqi oil.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3708203

[F14 Pilot]

US to change Iran policy if Tehran shuns terrorism: Armitage

Press Trust of India
Washington, October 29

The United States is "always prepared" to change its policies toward Iran if Iran ceases its support for terrorism and abandons its weapons of mass destruction programmes, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said.
He told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee here on Tuesday that the United States intends to pursue a "flexible, dynamic and multifaceted" policy toward Iran in order to encourage the Iranian people's desire for greater freedom while countering negative policies of their government, such as pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and support for terrorism.

"Iran is a country in the midst of a tremendous transformation. I believe American policy can affect the direction Iran will take," he said.

In his prepared remarks, Armitage said the Iranian people were now "engaged in a very rich and lively debate about the kind of society they want for themselves and for their children," including the desire for substantial economic and democratic reforms.

With most of the population under the age of 30, Armitage said the Iranian people are "far more concerned about Iran's chronic unemployment than they are about Iran's past."

"The Iranian people should know of our support for their aspirations, but also that the full rewards of that support will only be realized once their government ends its destructive external and internal policies. We look forward to the day when the will of the people of Iran prevails," he said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_437422,00050001.htm

[DoctorZIn]

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[blackie]

Death to all terrorists ~ free Iran, now!