Thirty arrested over Iran bombings

Yahoo News:

Sat Oct 22, 3:19 PM ET

Iran hardline judiciary said that so far 30 people have been arrested in connection to the bombings in the southwestern city of Ahvaz that killed six and wounded more than 100.

"So far around 30 people were arrested in connections to the bombings... these people have links to outside of the country," Iran's Justice Minister Jamal Karimi Rad said on state television, without giving further details.

In the aftermath of the bombings a week ago, Iran pointed the finger at Britain, which has troops based just across the border in Iraq.

"Information obtained by the concerned organs show that Britain is the main accused in the recent events," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told state television on Thursday.

"The information shows that Britain is seeking to create insecurity in our country by interfering in our internal affairs," he added, warning that the consequences "could be worrying for the British."

Britain has said the allegations were baseless.

Ahvaz, dominated by ethnic minority Arabs, has been hit by a wave of unrest this year, including riots in April and a series of car bombings prior to Iran's presidential election in June.

The Iranian allegations against Britain come in the wake of similar allegations made by Britain concerning Iran's alleged interference in Iraq.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other senior officials have said there is evidence of an Iranian connection to a series of deadly attacks on British troops in southern Iraq.