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BAKU: Iranian Embassy Says USA, Israel Behind Azeri Coup Allegations

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  • BAKU: Iranian Embassy Says USA, Israel Behind Azeri Coup Allegations

    IRANIAN EMBASSY SAYS USA, ISRAEL BEHIND AZERI COUP ALLEGATIONS

    Turan News Agency, Azerbaijan
    December 17, 2007 Monday

    Baku, 17 December: The report broadcast by the first channel of state
    television [AzTV] about the exposure of a group of radical extremists
    who plotted with the help of Iranian special services to seize power in
    Azerbaijan has caused a harsh reaction of Tehran. To all appearances,
    the Iranian authorities are seriously "offended" and are not going to
    put up with the allegations. This is corroborated by today's statement
    of the Iranian embassy in Baku which describes the allegations as a
    "comedy" whose scenario had been written with the involvement of the
    USA and Israel.

    Without hiding its irony, the embassy says it believes that
    Azerbaijan's senior leadership has nothing to do with this
    provocation. "It is more likely to have been done by the low-ranking
    elements in the government who wrote the scenario taking dictation
    from the USA and Israel," the statement says.

    The document also notes that "the documentary about Said's group" was
    broadcast on several TV channels, which points to a political order.

    The purpose of the order could be attempts to divert the public
    attention from the Karabakh conflict, involve Azerbaijan in the orbit
    of the US policy on Iran, equate Shi'ism with terrorism, create a
    psychological atmosphere corresponding to the negative attitude of
    the West to Islam and prevent the simplification of border crossing
    procedures for Azerbaijani and Iranian citizens.

    As to the "terrorists", the Iranian embassy describes their testimonies
    as "ridiculous" and "amateurish". "Allegations about a 15-member
    group plotting a coup is a clear insult to the Azerbaijani state,"
    the statement says. Finally, the document expresses the hope that
    Azerbaijan's state agencies will take the necessary measures to prevent
    in the future actions that inflict serious damage to relations between
    the two countries.

    A group of 15 young men, who the National Security Ministry said had
    been recruited by the Iranian military group Sepah [Islamic Revolution
    Guards Corps] and plotted an armed coup in Azerbaijan, were recently
    unmasked and convicted.
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