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Al-Qaeda associate fled from Iraq, harbored by Iran: report
Washington, June 10: A top al-Qaeda associate involved in the October assassination of US diplomat Laurence Foley in Jordan fled Iraq weeks ago and has been given refuge in Iran, the `Washington Times` said today quoting US intelligence officials.
Washington, June 10: A top al-Qaeda associate involved in the October assassination of US diplomat Laurence Foley in Jordan fled Iraq weeks ago and has been given refuge in Iran, the 'Washington Times' said today quoting US intelligence officials.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, one of several senior al-Qaeda leaders who remain under the protection of Iran's Islamic government, is sought by US authorities in connection with Foley's murder but the daily did not know if a formal extradition request has been made.
A US official told the daily that any US approach to Iran would be handled by a friendly third party, such as Jordan or Saudi Arabia.
The official said al-Zarqawi was not a member of al-Qaeda but "worked with them when it was convenient."
Iran has denied charges that it is harboring al-Qaeda members, saying instead that it had in custody a number of the terrorist group blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, without identifying them.
The unnamed US official quoted by the 'Washington Times' said al-Zarqawi was not a member of al-Qaeda but "worked with them when it was convenient."
US intelligence officials told the daily that Iran's ministry of intelligence and security and the QODS division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps were deeply involved in supporting terrorist groups including al-Qaeda.
Bureau Report
A US official told the daily that any US approach to Iran would be handled by a friendly third party, such as Jordan or Saudi Arabia.
The official said al-Zarqawi was not a member of al-Qaeda but "worked with them when it was convenient."
Iran has denied charges that it is harboring al-Qaeda members, saying instead that it had in custody a number of the terrorist group blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, without identifying them.
The unnamed US official quoted by the 'Washington Times' said al-Zarqawi was not a member of al-Qaeda but "worked with them when it was convenient."
US intelligence officials told the daily that Iran's ministry of intelligence and security and the QODS division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps were deeply involved in supporting terrorist groups including al-Qaeda.
Bureau Report