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Iran arrests members of "terrorist" exiled group - tv

Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:14pm EDT


TEHRAN, June 15 (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday it had arrested members of an exiled opposition group who had planned terrorist attacks in Tehran on the first anniversary of a disputed presidential election, state television reported.

The report said members of the Mujahideen Khalq Organisation (MKO) were arrested by the Intelligence Ministry before they could detonate bombs in "a few squares in Tehran".

"By using some ... people trained in Iraq ... and the support of Britain, Sweden and France, the leaders of this criminal group wanted to detonate bombs in sensitive places in Tehran," Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi was quoted as saying.

Moslehi did not say how many people were arrested or when.

The report came two days after Iran said it had arrested 13 members of an anti-revolutionary group who had carried out terrorist attacks in the Islamic state.

Tehran said that armed group was linked to the Islamic state's "foreign enemies".

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the opposition on Saturday not to hold protests to mark the anniversary of last June's presidential vote or face confrontation with the hardline force.

Opposition leaders had called off a planned rally, fearing for people's lives after authorities refused permission for the rally.

Last year's unrest, the worst since formation of the Islamic republic in 1979, was quelled by the Guards with violent crackdowns, mass detentions and executions. Two people were hanged and scores of detainees remain in jail, including 30 women.

The opposition says the vote was rigged to secure President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's win. The authorities deny the accusations, which they say are part of a Western-orchestrated plot to overthrow the Islamic state.

Moslehi said at least one of the detained MKO members had been involved in the post-election unrest.

Iranian officials often accuse the United States, Britain and Israel of supporting terrorists. They dismiss such allegations. (Editing by Andrew Roche)

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