8 August 2004 -- The Iranian Embassy in Baghdad today confirmed that one of its diplomats in Iraq has been kidnapped.
Iranian state television said the diplomat, Faridoun Jahani, was kidnapped as he was traveling to the central Iraqi city of Karbala to open an Iranian consulate there.
The television said no ransom has been demanded.
A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq said earlier today it has "detained" Jahani for "stirring sectarian strife and for activities outside his diplomatic duties".
The Arab-language Al-Arabiyah television reports that the group warned Iran against its "blatant interference in Iraqi internal affairs."
Tehran is reported summoning the Iraqi charge d'affaires to the Foreign Ministry later today over recent remarks by Iraqi officials claiming that Iran is interfering in Iraqi internal affairs.
(agencies)
The television said no ransom has been demanded.
A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq said earlier today it has "detained" Jahani for "stirring sectarian strife and for activities outside his diplomatic duties".
The Arab-language Al-Arabiyah television reports that the group warned Iran against its "blatant interference in Iraqi internal affairs."
Tehran is reported summoning the Iraqi charge d'affaires to the Foreign Ministry later today over recent remarks by Iraqi officials claiming that Iran is interfering in Iraqi internal affairs.
(agencies)