Iran will not suspend enrichment, says official

TEHRAN, Aug 20 (Reuters) Iran said today it would not suspend uranium enrichment, ruling out the main demand in a package of proposals backed by six nations aimed at resolving Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.

''We are not going to suspend (enrichment). The issue was that everything should come out of negotiations, but suspension of uranium enrichment is not on our agenda,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said, speaking two days before Iran's self-imposed deadline of August 22 to respond to the offer.

REUTERS LL HT1302