$20m to support militant groups

TEHERAN: Iran's parliament passed a law yesterday earmarking $20 million to support militant groups opposing the West and investigate alleged US and British plots against the Islamic Republic.

The legislation is widely seen as a response to Western criticism of Iran's violent crackdown against protesters following the disputed June presidential election. Lawmakers started debating the outline of the bill in August when Iran's leaders were fending off allegations that security forces had tortured opposition activists detained during the demonstrations.

The text of the legislation says the money is to "support progressive currents that resist illegal activities by the governments of the US and Britain". Iranian officials often use such terms to describe militant groups.

It was not immediately clear which groups would receive funding from Iran, but Teheran already backs the Islamic militants Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The bill also taps funds to "confront plots and unjust restrictions" by the Washington and London against Teheran and to disclose "human rights abuses by the two countries".

Less cooperation with IAEA

Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned yesterday that Teheran could scale back its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency if the West continues to pressure Teheran over its nuclear program.

To that end, lawmakers asked the government yesterday to begin drawing up a bill to reduce cooperation with the UN nuclear agency.

AP

(China Daily 11/30/2009 page8)