Iran To Probe Reports Of Iraq Shelling

(RFE/RL) September 2, 2007 -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry says it is going to investigate reports of shelling in Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.

On August 31, Iraqi officials blamed Iran for the shelling and warned that the incidents threatened bilateral ties.

In the first Iranian comment, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, said the reports needed investigation.

Hosseini suggested that "terrorist groups" operating in Iran's border area with Iraq, perpetrating "acts of sabotage."

Kurdish separatist guerrillas that seek autonomy for Kurdish areas in Iran are believed to be based in the area.

(Reuters)