Iran arrests ’separatists’ in oil-rich province
AFP
August 22, 2007
TEHRAN – Iran has arrested several members of a “separatist group” in its oil-rich western province of Khuzestan, and seized a stash of weapons from their hideout, Iranian media reported Wednesday. “Over recent days, members of a separatist group were arrested in Khuzestan,” the Mehr news agency cited a statement from the intelligence ministry as saying.
“They were arrested after a tip-off from the public. In searches of their hideout, a substantial number of military weapons were found,” it added.
There were no details provided about how many people had been arrested, or who they were.
“The aim of this separatist group was to create division and also to propagate religious sectarian division,” the statement said.
The restive province of Khuzestan borders Iraq, and is home to a substantial Arab community that includes both Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
The provincial capital, Ahvaz, was the scene of deadly attacks in October 2005 and January 2006, which Iran blamed on elements linked to Britain, whose forces are stationed in the region around the Iraqi city of Basra, over the border.
Earlier this month, the intelligence ministry said it had foiled a rebel plan to carry out a “terrorist act” in the oil-rich border province.
Iran regularly accuses archfoe the United States and its Western allies of being behind unrest in its sensitive border provinces, many of which are home to ethnic and religious minorities.
