Freed Iranian says US 'tortured' him

From correspondents in Iran

April 07, 2007 10:51pm
Article from: Reuters

AN Iranian diplomat freed two months after being kidnapped in Iraq has said he was tortured by US forces while in captivity.

Iran blamed the US military for his abduction, while US officials denied any role.

His comments follow the release of 15 British troops from Iran, where they say they were ill-treated.

“Jalal Sharafi, in an interview with Fars, explained how he had been kidnapped and tortured severely by American forces with the help of agents working for Iraq's communications organisation which works under the supervision of the CIA,” Fars News Agency reported.

“He showed reporters the marks left by torture on his body that are now being treated by doctors,” Fars, which is considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guards said.

Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms kidnapped Mr Sharafi in February.

An Iraqi Government official said at the time Mr Sharafi had been seized by 30 gunmen wearing the uniforms of an Iraqi army unit that often works with the US military in Iraq.

When Mr Sharafi was released on Tuesday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said the diplomat was in good health and said he did not know who had held him.

US forces in Iraq have arrested a number of Iranians, including five men in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil who Washington said had links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and were helping Iraqi militants.

Iran denies the charge, says they are diplomats and has demanded they be freed.

It has also said it is still waiting for a reply to its request for consular access to the five. Washington says it is considering the request.

Iran, Britain and the US have insisted there is no link between the detention and release of the 15 British sailors and marines and the cases of Iranians held in Iraq.

But some analysts say the Revolutionary Guards who seized the 15 Britons, who were held for 13 days, may have been acting partly to send a message that Iran would not sit idle while its citizens were detained in Iraq.

While in captivity the Britons told Iranian television they were being treated well, but on return to Britain said they faced “constant psychological pressure” including being kept in isolation and threatened with jail unless they admitted to illegally entering Iran.

Britain insists they were in Iraqi waters when seized.