Iran, the Troublemaker

Suspected al-Qaida Captured at Sea
WASHINGTON (AP) - After months of searching the high seas, the international anti-terror coalition for Afghanistan ( news - web sites) captured four men with suspected al-Qaida links, possibly uncovering an escape route through Iran.

Two were captured by Canadian sailors last weekend in the Gulf of Oman and the others by a French warship Wednesday in the same general area east of the Arabian peninsula.

In both cases, the men had sailed from Iran, two defense officials said Friday on condition of anonymity.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020719/ap_on_re_mi_ea/capture_at_sea_2


Iran Blew Up Jewish Center in Argentina, Defector Says
BUENOS AIRES, July 21 — The Iranian government organized and carried out the bombing of a Jewish community center here eight years ago that killed 85 people and then paid Argentina's president at the time, Carlos Saúl Menem, $10 million to cover it up, a witness in the case has said in sealed testimony.

A 100-page transcript of a secret deposition, provided to The New York Times by Argentine officials frustrated that the case remains unsolved, supports long-held suspicions of Iranian involvement and adds to the questions surrounding the conduct of an inquiry that has been rife with irregularities from the start.

Evidence has disappeared, leads have been ignored and witnesses have been threatened and apparently bribed.

According to the witness, a high-level defector from Iran's intelligence agency who gave his name as Abdolghassem Mesbahi, Mr. Menem, who was president from 1989 to 1999, benefited for years from his ties to Iranian intelligence officials.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/22/international/americas/22ARGE.html?pagewanted=all&position=top