Videos Latest Feature Sports Your Videos
 

Iran: Explosion was fireworks

Iran: Explosion was fireworks
0 CommentsPrint E-mail CNTV, August 5, 2010
Adjust font size:

 

Iran is denying reports there was a possible assassination attempt on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They claim an explosion that went off near the President's convoy was just an excited fan setting off fireworks.

 

Noise from the explosion of a home-made grenade, or from setting off fireworks? This remains a mystery amid conflicting reports from Iran's media and those from the West.

The blast occurred as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was on his way to a meeting in the western town of Hamedan.

Ahmadinejad made a speech as planned without mentioning the incident.

Some Iranian and Western media reported the explosion hit a car carrying reporters. The car of the president was 100 meters ahead of the blast.

Iran's state news agency IRNA and local English channel Press TV later reported the blast was a "firecracker". It is customary in the region during welcoming ceremonies to light firecrackers.

Press TV Correspondent, said, "We have been hearing a number of stories about an attack on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's convoy, so we contacted both the president's media office and correspondents who were accompanying the president on his visit to Hamedan, and both of them rejected the claim. I personally talked to a correspondent from the ISNA news agency, and she said that there was no such thing; it was actually a firecracker, and as you know it is quite customary in that region to use firecrackers in welcoming ceremonies. So she completely rejected the story."

Iran accuses some foreign media of fishing in troubled waters, saying they interpreted the incident as an assassination attempt and tried to make use of it.

However, a man suspected of throwing a grenade at Ahmadinejad's convoy has been detained.

 

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comments

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter