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13:01 GMT
TEHRAN, Nov 15 (KUNA) -- Iran declared on Monday that it had resolved what
it termed as "misunderstanding" with Nigeria over seizure of arms by the
authorities of the African nation.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in a statement that the seized
cargo of weapons belonged to a private company and was destined for an African
country, via Nigeria.
The minister was reacting to reports that the arms, including rockets and
munitions, had been shipped from an Iranian port and that two Iranians,
members of the Revolutionary Guards, were nabbed by the Nigerian authorities
on charges of involvement of the shipment of the arms -- in violation of
international curbs that ban arms deals or shipment to or out of Iran.
This company, Mottaki added, had sold these traditional defensive arms to a
west African country and the weapons were dispatched via Nigeria, "and this
where the misunderstanding had developed, which I believed had ended."
Nigerian officials determined that the seized arms were not destined for
their homeland, said the minister, whose remarks were broadcast by the
official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
In elaboration, the foreign minister noted that he has recently visited
Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin and Ghana to discuss means of promoting
ties with these African countries, adding that his Nigerian counterpart would
visit Iran soon.
Western media, citing the international shipping company, CGMI ICMA, had
reported that the containers-load of arms, confiscated by the Nigerian
authorities, months ago, had been shipped out of Iran. (end)
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KUNA 151601 Nov 10NNNN