US accuses Iran of aiding al-Qaida fugitives

The United States has accused Iran of allowing al-Qaida members to flee Afghanistan with safe passage through Iran.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said:

"There is no question that al-Qaida have moved into and found sanctuary in Iran and there is no question that al-Qa’ida have moved into Iran and out of Iran to the south and dispersed to some other countries."

He also accused Iran of not co-operating with the US-led "war on terrorism" and said Iranian authorities are secretly working with Afghan warlords to undermine the US-backed interim administration in Kabul.

On Monday, Rumsfeld also accused Iran, Iraq and Syria of "inspiring and financing a culture of political murder and suicide bombing" in the Middle East.