London, Sept 10, IRNA - The British government still considers that the MKO is a terrorist group despite being recently removed from the UK's proscribed organizations, according to Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

During a meeting with visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Straw also said that the UK strongly supports keeping the MKO on the EU's terrorist list.

The British government has argued that it had no alternative but to accept a recent court decision to remove the group, which has assassinated thousands of Iranians, from its list of proscribed organizations under the Terrorism Act 2000.

But at their meeting on Tuesday night, Safari described the decision as both "political and unlawful" and said it was a "black stain on UK-Iran relations."

The deputy foreign minister, who started a three-day visit to London on Monday, also expressed concern about the long-drawn out saga of the US trying to extradite former Iranian Ambassador to Jordan, Nosratollah Tajik, from the UK while at Durham University.

He was particularly distressed about Tajik's physical and psychological condition caused by two years of duress, while he was not only innocent but a victim of entrapment in a secret US sting operation.

But Safari expressed hope that the case would be successfully resolved as soon as possible and clear the "black mark" in the UK's relations with Iran to ensure it does not happen again.
 

Iraqi minister says MKO engaged in illegal activities in Iraq

Baghdad, Sept 10, IRNA - Iraqi Defense Minister Abdulqader Mohammed al-Obeidi said on Wednesday that the terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO) has been engaged in illegal activities on Iraqi soil.

Al-Obeidi told a press conference, "We have reliable evidence at hand which shows the Organization (MKO outfit) has carried out illegal activities in Iraq."

He said that the takeover of the MKO camp by the Iraqi government can be an instance of sovereignty over Iraq.

"No garrison or military camp in Iraq should be out of Iraqi government's control," he added.

The official said the MKO has over recent years carried out illegal activities inside Iraq and the Iraqi government will not at all accept such conducts.

He stressed that expulsion of the terrorist MKO from Iraq is legitimate right of the Iraqi government.

The Iraqi government's move in expelling the MKO elements does not contradict international regulations and the government can do so, said the Iraqi minister, adding that as long as such elements have not been expelled from the country, Baghdad will treat them based on human rights regulations.

... Payvand News - 09/10/08 ...

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