TEHRAN, April 7 An Iranian diplomat claims he was tortured by CIA agents and their Iraqi associates after being kidnapped near Iran's embassy in Baghdad two months ago.
Jalal Sharafi made the accusations Saturday in Tehran while showing reporters injuries he said he suffered while in captivity, the Fars News Agency said.
Sharafi, who was the second secretary at the Embassy, said he was shopping when kidnapped by "some agents who used U.S. vehicles and who showed me identification cards of the Iraqi Defense Ministry." He said he was taken to a base near the Baghdad airport and interrogated about Iran ' s presence, influence and aid to groups in Iraq. "Once they heard my response that Iran merely has official relations with the Iraqi government and officials, they intensified tortures and tortured me through different methods days and nights," he said. "In the second phase, they endeavored to show me a merciful and kind face and encouraged me to cooperate with them. But I told them that they can discuss their points with the Iranian Embassy and that I am only a diplomat working in the embassy and I can't do anything beyond my legal duties." The diplomat said he was released near Baghdad airport.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
