Iran summons Swiss envoy over US "spy networks"

TEHRAN, May 27 (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran today to condemn what it said was US backing of spy networks inside the Islamic Republic, the students' news agency ISNA reported.

The Swiss embassy represents US interests in Iran, because Washington has not had a mission there since 1980, when Iranian students took 52 American diplomats hostage for 444 days.

''Iran's strong objection over America and its intelligence services' hostile interference in Iran's state matters was conveyed to the ambassador,'' ISNA quoted Foreign Ministry official Ahmad Sobhani as saying.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry said yesterday that it had uncovered spy networks that were organised by occupying forces in Iraq as well as some Iraqi groups.

''Spy networks, guided by American intelligence services, have recently been discovered in west, southwest and central Iran,'' said Sobhani, who delivered Iran's protest to the Swiss ambassador.

Tehran accuses the United States and Britain, which led the invasion of neighbouring Iraq, of seeking to undermine its security It was not clear if the ''spy networks'' were linked to Iran's recent detention of Iranian-Americans, including US-based scholar Haleh Esfandiari, whom the ministry has accused of being linked to efforts to undermine the Iranian government.

The United States has dismissed the accusations and called for her release.

Iranian and U S officials hold a rare face-to-face meeting in Iraq on Monday to discuss security in the country.

REUTERS RN PK KP2354