[THS] Iran rebel, on death row, says US supported group

[Peter Webster]

Former US spy confirms Rigi's CIA link, rejects ties: 
 
A former US intelligence official has admitted that CIA operatives in Pakistan had held talks with the Jundallah terrorist group led by Abdolmalek Rigi.
http://presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119860&sectionid=351020101
 
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High-profile US official was waiting for Rigi in Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan: 
 
Independent news sources reported on Saturday that Abdolmalek Rigi, the terrorist who has been arrested by Iranian security forces, had planned to meet with Richard Holbrooke in the Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan.
http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=180088

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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLP446118

Iran rebel, on death row, says US supported group
Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:23pm EDT

* Rigi's execution postponed last month

* Iran invites journalists to news conference



ZAHEDAN, Iran, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Iranian authorities presented a condemned
Sunni rebel to reporters on Tuesday who said his group had received support from
both the United States and al Qaeda to attack targets inside Iran.

The statement by Abdolhamid Rigi echoed Iran's allegations about Jundollah (God's
soldiers), which claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a Shi'ite mosque in May
that killed 25 people in the Islamic Republic's volatile southeast.

He is a brother of Jundollah leader Abdolmalek Rigi and his execution was postponed
last month when 13 other members of the ethnic Baluch Sunni group were hanged
for attacks. Iran, an officially Shi'ite Muslim country, has small Sunni minorities.

Iranian authorities had invited foreign journalists to Zahedan, capital of Sistan-
Baluchestan province bordering Pakistan, to what appeared a carefully planned
event.

Before the news conference in a government office, a video was shown in which
Abdolhamid Rigi said Jundollah was engaged in kidnappings, robberies and drugs
smuggling to make money and also received backing from the United States, Iran's
arch-foe.

"We were told that it is religiously allowed to get America's help," he said on the film.

The video also showed the beheading by Jundollah of a man identified as
Abdolhamid Rigi's's brother-in-law who was accused of being a government informer.

Wearing civilian clothes, Rigi later told the news conference he had been deceived by
Jundollah and that he was ready to die for his crimes.

He entered the room without handcuffs and with no sign of police escorting him. But
he said he remained jailed and had made no deal with the authorities.

Iranian officials last month said his execution was delayed in order to get more
information from him.



AL QAEDA LINKS

"I was irreligious and uneducated. I'm a criminal," Rigi said, appearing remorseful
but also calm. "The sooner I'm executed the better for me and society."

Iran accuses the United States of backing Jundollah in order to create instability in
the country. Washington denies the charge. Jundollah itself says it is fighting for the
rights of the Islamic Republic's minority Sunnis.

Ethnic Baluch, many with tribal links to their restive kin in neighbouring Pakistan and
Afghanistan, make up an estimated one to three percent of Iran's 70 million people.

Rigi said the United States had provided $100,000 to Jundollah five years ago and
had also pledged to provide everything it needed in terms of money and equipment.

"All the orders (to Jundollah) come from there," said Rigi, who is about 30 years old.

Iran has also linked Jundollah to the Sunni Islamist al Qaeda network. Rigi said
Jundollah had contacts and cooperation with al Qaeda in Pakistan until 2003, when
they parted ways because of differences over strategy in Iran.

Most people in Sistan-Baluchestan are Sunni Muslims and ethnic Baluchis. Close to
Pakistan and Afghanistan, the region has been the scene of frequent clashes
between security forces and heavily armed drug smugglers.

Iran rejects allegations by Western rights groups that it discriminates against ethnic
and religious minorities. (Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Jon Hemming)