Iran arrests atomic spy serving opposition group-radio

TEHRAN, Jan 9 (Reuters) Iran has arrested a man on suspicion of leaking secrets of the country's disputed nuclear activities to an exiled Iranian opposition group, state radio said today.

''The man had handed over classified information, including a bulletin on nuclear activities, to the hypocrites (People's Mujahideen)'' state radio said, without giving a source.

The People's Mujahideen, labelled a terrorist group in the European Union and the United States, was the first body to expose Iran's covert nuclear programme in 2002.

A leading hardline MP confirmed the arrest.

''The man has been working in parliament's research centre since 2001,'' Ahmad Tavakoli told the semi-official Fars news agency.

''He was gathering and giving information to the terrorist group,'' he said, adding that the man would be put on trial soon.

Judiciary officials were not immediately available for comment.

Iranian analysts say the People's Mujahideen lacks support in Iran where few can forgive its siding with Saddam Hussein in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on December 23 to impose sanctions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology in an attempt to stop uranium enrichment work that could produce material that could be used in bombs.

Tehran says it is determined to continue its nuclear work, which it says is meant only for producing electricity.

The West suspects Iran's atomic work is part of a veiled nuclear arms programme.

Reuters BDP GC2101