Pre-emptive Expulsion - Two Iranian U.N. Workers Expelled From the United States

ABCNews.com ^ | 6/27/02 | John McWethy

[mware]

Did they have more information than what is reported here

No, just that they would be sent packing.

I would much rather they hold them in custody until after July 4th.

[freeperfromnj]

Here's a brief update as of late this afternoon. As usual, officials seem to be downplaying the incident - but then again, consider the source of the story.

U.S. to Iran: Don't videotape NYC landmarks

June 28, 2002 Posted: 3:26 AM EDT (0726 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The U.S. government has sent a note to the Iranian mission saying it was not appropriate for two guards from the mission to film New York City landmarks and ask that they not do so in the future, a senior State Department official said Thursday.

The note was sent after New York City police questioned the guards at the U.N. Mission to Iran who were observed videotaping city landmarks along the waterfront, the official said.

The guards, who did not have diplomatic status, appeared to have been taking the pictures simply for tourist purposes, the official said.

There is no plan to deport the guards, but they are expected to leave the country soon because their tour of duty is over, the official said.

--CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott contributed to this story.

[niki]

Never been to the east coast are, 'entrances to the tunnels into Manhattan' a tourist attraction?

Sounds like the State Dept. is not being overly honest.

Thanks for the update.

[freeperfromnj]

are, 'entrances to the tunnels into Manhattan' a tourist attraction?

I should say not. This is another one of those stories where NYC cops were right on top of things but not taken seriously when they reported the incident. Just like the officers who stopped the van full of Pakistani men last month outside the Brooklyn Battery tunnel. They called the INS only to find there was no one working there for the Memorial Day weekend.

[newwahoo]

"Never been to the east coast are, 'entrances to the tunnels into Manhattan' a tourist attraction? "

LOL. No one I've ever given the grand tour to has ever asked to see them. BTTT.

[niki]

This must be a special U.N./State Dept. Islamic fantasy tour, where tourist can "visit all the places they fantasize blowing up"

[hellinahandcart]

Looks like they're not being deported, just "going home".