Fun Roundup...Iran spy network in Kuwait conducted reconnaissance on U.S. bases, Qatar signs up with Iran??

By bigadmin on May 20, 2006 8:15 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

GERTZ --SUB REQ ...

ABU DHABI — Kuwait has uncovered an Iranian espionage ring.

Authorities have discovered an Iranian spy network operating in the sheikdom, according to Kuwaiti and foreign Arab media quoting Kuwaiti security sources. The media reports asserted that the Iranian network was monitoring U.S. and other military activities.

It is the first time Kuwait was reported to have captured an Iranian espionage ring. Kuwait has a huge Shi'ite minority, comprising about 45 percent of the sheikdom's population.

In 2005, Kuwait warned Iran against inciting the Shi'ite population in the sheikdom. Later, Kuwait initiated the Gulf Cooperation Council debate on Iran's nuclear program.

On May 9, a Kuwaiti Defense Ministry official, Col. Nadir Shaban, denied the reports. In a statement released by the official Kuwait News Agency, Shaban called the newspaper reports "baseless." He did not elaborate.

So far, five members of the purported Iranian spy network — all of them Iranian nationals — have been arrested. The five were said to have been detained in early April, and media reports said that the suspects admitted to conducting reconnaissance of U.S. bases and areas used by American soldiers and civilians.

The five military officers were arrested on suspicion of photographing army, navy and air force bases. The suspects were said to have been working for the Iranian Intelligence and Security Ministry.

The five suspects were later said to have been released.

In 1996, Iran and Kuwait signed a security cooperation agreement that stipulated the transfer of criminal suspects for prosecution in their native countries.

The United States has used Kuwait as its training and logistics base for the Gulf and Central Asia. An estimated 17,000 U.S. soldiers have been stationed in Kuwait

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No shock? More.........

Qatar is 3rd Gulf state to sign security agreement with Iran

NICOSIA — Iran has prepared to sign a security cooperation accord with Qatar.

Iran has sought to sign military and security cooperation accords with all six Gulf Cooperation Council states. So far, Teheran has signed either military or security agreements with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Iranian officials said the two countries agreed in principle to security cooperation during the visit by Qatar's King Hamad to Teheran in early May.

They said such an accord could be signed later in 2006.

On May 9, the Iranian Cabinet approved a draft security agreement with Qatar. Officials said the agreement was drafted by the Interior Ministry and called for widespread security cooperation between the two countries.

Officials said the draft accord would include cooperation in the areas of law enforcement, intelligence and counter-insurgency. They said the two Interior Ministries would conduct the cooperation.

Intimidation? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah