Iran demands that UN chief appoint team to investigate NATO actions in Iraq and Afghanistan

Iran demands probe of NATO in Iraq, Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS — Iran’s president on Monday accused NATO of terrorism and demanded U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon open an investigation of the alliance’s presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In a letter to U.N. chief, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said captured insurgent leader Abdulmalik Rigi had confessed NATO members were backing his Jundallah insurgency, which says it is fighting for equal rights for the Sunni minority in southeastearn Iran.

In recent years, Jundallah has claimed responsibility for bombing attacks that have killed dozens, including five senior commanders of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard in October.

Ahmadinejad said “there is concrete evidence on the involvement of intelligence and security services of at least three countries supporting his (Rigi’s) terrorist operations.” He did not identify the countries.

U.N. associate spokesman Farhan Haq said the secretary-general received the letter Monday afternoon “and it is now going to be studied.”

The letter, which Ahmadinejad said was accompanied by video of part of Rigi’s confession, employed unusually blunt language, telling the U.N. chief, “you are expected to take the following measures” including “condemnation of the supports (sic) given by NATO members for terrorism in the region.”

In addition, Ahmadinejad said “you are at least expected to appoint an independent fact-finding team which is trusted by the countries of the region, to launch a comprehensive investigation into the main intentions of NATO military presence in Afghanistan and Iran, the methods used, and the outcome of their presence and engagement.”

The results of the investigation should be presented to the U.N. General Assembly, he said.

Ahmadinejad concluded by saying if Ban doesn’t take action “to put an end to massacres, increasing narcotic production and occupation” he should explain why the U.N. exists.