Iran denies not helping Argentina in bomb probe

TEHRAN, Sep 27 (Reuters) Iran rejected today remarks by the Argentine president that Tehran was not cooperating over a judicial probe into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, a news agency reported.

Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, in a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, called for more cooperation and said Iran had ''not provided all the collaboration needed'' by the Argentine justice system.

''Mr Kirchner's remarks indicate that either his information was not up-to-date or he had made those comments under the influence of the present situation of his country's approaching elections and under the pressures of the Zionists,'' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.

''As a humanitarian move, the Islamic Republic of Iran has already voiced its readiness to form a joint judicial and legal committee with Argentina'' to clarify aspects of the case, Hosseini said, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Argentina has accused former high-level Iranian officials of involvement in the bombing in Buenos Aires and last year asked for their arrest. Iran denies any involvement in the attack.

The bombing of the AMIA Jewish centre killed 85 people and injured more than 200. It occurred two years after an explosion destroyed the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires and killed 29 people.

Neither attack has been solved.

Reuters PD DB2151