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    October 11, 2011

US Foils Alleged Plot to Assassinate Saudi Ambassador

   David Gollust

   The United States says it has broken up an alleged Iranian plot to
   assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States.
   U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday authorities have
   detained an Iranian-American who is suspected of involvement in what he
   called a "murder for hire" scheme targeting the Saudi envoy.
   Holder alleged that the suspect, Manssor Arbabsiar, who holds both U.S.
   and Iranian passports, conspired with an Iran-based member of the
   Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps to plan the assassination. He
   identified the conspirator as Gholam Shakuri.
   Charges have been filed against both men in connection in the plot,
   which Holder said was "conceived, sponsored and directed" from Iran.
   He accused Iran of violating international law that protects diplomats
   from being harmed and said the U.S. will hold the Iranian government
   responsible for its actions.
   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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