President hails "honest" probe into murders
of Iranian dissidents
TEHRAN, Jan 6 (AFP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami praised the
intelligence ministry on Wednesday for its "honest" investigation
into the murders of dissident intellectuals which implicated the secret
service.
"I have no doubt that your appropriate move in solving the case
will boost public trust in this clean and strong agency and its loyal
and selfless forces," the president said in a message to intelligence
ministry employees.
"Our main asset is the trust of our people and sincerity is the
greatest factor for national trust," he said in the message read
on state radio and television.
"You must know that real security lies in a sincere approach to
the people," Khatami added.
His message came after the intelligence ministry announced Tuesday
that a number of "renegade, irresponsible and misguided colleagues"
had carried out the recent kidnappings and killings of several liberal
writers as well as the stabbing to death of a nationalist leader and his
wife.
"These crimes are not only an act of betrayal against the intelligence
ministry, but have also greatly damaged the prestige of the sacred Islamic
regime," the ministry said in a statement.
Khatami urged the intelligence services "not to lose confidence"
over the stunning revelations.
"The intelligence services showed that they are alive and awake,
that they have the will to repel foreign sickly cells entering its strong
and clean body," he said.
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