U.S. Says It Has Foiled Plots
By Iraqi Terrorists Abroad
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The State Department said it had information that Iraqi intelligence officers planned terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in two foreign countries.
In both cases, the operatives were arrested, terrorist material was confiscated and attacks weren't carried out, spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday.
The U.S. has asked a number of countries to expel suspected Iraqi intelligence officers based on "the significant threat posed by their presence," Mr. Boucher said. He declined to identify the two countries in the alleged terror plots.
One of the countries is on the Arabian peninsula, a U.S. counterterrorism official said.
"Officers in the Iraqi intelligence service remain a threat because of their history of support for terrorism," Mr. Boucher said. "The United States will continue to monitor this situation and work with our partners and allies to ensure the safety of American citizens and facilities overseas."
The State Department gave reporters no precise information on the terror-plan allegations. The basic information announced Friday has been made known to other countries, officials said.
Some 17 countries have expelled Iraqi intelligence officers, said one senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. A like number of countries expelled Iraqi agents during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the official said. He said he didn't know if the agents alleged to have been involved in the plots were operating out of embassies.
Last week, the State Department announced the three Iraqi diplomats remaining in Washington had been ordered to leave. The government called on countries with diplomatic ties to Iraq to expel Iraq's senior envoys, as well.
France, which led the opposition in the United Nations to the U.S.'s war plans, refused the U.S. request.
Copyright (c) 2003 Associated Press
Updated March 28, 2003 3:51 p.m.
By Iraqi Terrorists Abroad
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The State Department said it had information that Iraqi intelligence officers planned terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in two foreign countries.
In both cases, the operatives were arrested, terrorist material was confiscated and attacks weren't carried out, spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday.
The U.S. has asked a number of countries to expel suspected Iraqi intelligence officers based on "the significant threat posed by their presence," Mr. Boucher said. He declined to identify the two countries in the alleged terror plots.
One of the countries is on the Arabian peninsula, a U.S. counterterrorism official said.
"Officers in the Iraqi intelligence service remain a threat because of their history of support for terrorism," Mr. Boucher said. "The United States will continue to monitor this situation and work with our partners and allies to ensure the safety of American citizens and facilities overseas."
The State Department gave reporters no precise information on the terror-plan allegations. The basic information announced Friday has been made known to other countries, officials said.
Some 17 countries have expelled Iraqi intelligence officers, said one senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. A like number of countries expelled Iraqi agents during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the official said. He said he didn't know if the agents alleged to have been involved in the plots were operating out of embassies.
Last week, the State Department announced the three Iraqi diplomats remaining in Washington had been ordered to leave. The government called on countries with diplomatic ties to Iraq to expel Iraq's senior envoys, as well.
France, which led the opposition in the United Nations to the U.S.'s war plans, refused the U.S. request.
Copyright (c) 2003 Associated Press
Updated March 28, 2003 3:51 p.m.
