Tehran, Oct 28: Iran today reiterated its refusal to hand over suspected members of the Al-qaeda network detained in the country, insisting that operatives from the group would be tried in the Islamic republic's courts. "The demand by the white house that members of this group currently held in Iran be extradited is inappropriate," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi was quoted a saying by state radio. "They have committed crimes in Iran and will be judged by our tribunals in accordance with our laws," he said, promising "fair trials". The United States said yesterday that Iran should turn over all suspected members of Osama bin Laden's Al-qaeda network it has detained and not just notify the united nations of their identities. "We have indicated to Iran that we thought that anybody that they have in custody should be returned to places of origin for whatever justice might be appropriate or turned over to us if they choose to do that," Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

On saturday, state media reported that Iran had identified to the UN security council 78 suspected Al-qaeda members whom Tehran said had already been extradited to their countries of origin.

Bureau Report