An attempt to assassinate Iran's President Mohammed Khatami was foiled last week during his visit to the southern province of Fars, reported the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA), quoting a report by a local newspaper.
"Those who were involved in this organized attempt were arrested and investigations are underway," deputy governor of the Fars province told the Persian daily Hambastegi.
The paper quoted another security official in the province, Hadi Pajouhes, as saying that the conspiracy was "nipped in the bud."
Meanwhile, Iran's News Agency (IRNA) reported Monday that security forces arrested a group which intended to defame Khatami's image by distributing posters showing his picture beside that of a late nationalist leader.
The Persian daily `Doran-e Emrouz' said that the group printed
and distributed some 150,000 of such posters with the twin pictures of Khatami and Mohammad Mosaddeq, according to IRNA. The nationalist government of Mosaddeq was deposed by an American-led coup in 1953.
The daily further cited the deputy political-security head at "Through careful research and investigation, we will disclose
the persons involved in the incident," the daily quoted a security official as saying.
He said also that those arrested were
affiliated to a certain organization, but that none of the
national-religious groups in the country were involved -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
