China had warned citizens about photos in Iran

BEIJING, Aug 16 (Reuters) Nine days before Iran announced it had arrested two Chinese nationals for taking photographs of military and nuclear installations, China's foreign ministry had already warned its citizens not to photo sensitive subjects.

In a little noticed announcement on its Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn), the foreign ministry said the Iranian police had detained some Chinese on suspicion of spying because they did ''not understand Iran's national situation''.

''They mistakenly photographed sensitive local political, economic and military areas,'' it said, without providing details.

''The Foreign Ministry's consular section and the embassy in Iran remind Chinese going to Iran to strictly respect local laws and religious customs,'' the statement said.

''Apart from obviously signed tourist areas, don't take random pictures in the street to avoid creating trouble.'' An Iranian spokesman said their case was now under review by officials in the region of Arak, a town about 190 km southwest of Tehran where Iran is building a heavy-water reactor.

Iran insists its nuclear programme has only civilian aims but the West says Tehran has a covert operation to make atomic bombs. Arak will produce radio-isotopes for medical care and agriculture but could also yield plutonium for use in bombs.

China is among a group of six world powers considering a possible third round of U N sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear work. The other countries are Britain, France, the United States, Russia and Germany.

China has taken a more cautious line than Western states in Iran's nuclear row, urging a negotiated solution and restraint over the use of sanctions.

REUTERS RJ HT1102