November 08, 2007

Reuters:

Iranian security forces have killed three Kurdish rebels in the country's Kurdistan province bordering Iraq, an official Iranian daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper, Iran, quoted "an informed source" as saying they were members of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), an Iranian offshoot of the separatist Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) movement that is fighting neighbouring Turkey.

"This group is directly supported by Western countries," Iran quoted the source as saying, listing the United States and Germany. There was no immediate comment from Iranian officials, who have also previously alleged U.S. support for Kurdish guerrillas operating out of northern Iraq.

The daily did not say when the incident took place. ...

Iran quoted its source as saying that American generals had "visited PJAK's bases in Iraq and approved their activities." It did not give details.

An Iranian contact is skeptical on that last point. If the Iranians had evidence of American generals visiting Iranian Kurdish militants, he writes, "They would publicize it. Publicize interrogations, confessions, etc, etc. Nothing yet....... I don't think the US is involved. They are barely in touch with KDPI."

Posted by Laura at November 8, 2007 09:54 AM