08 August 2004	Sunday	21 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

BAGHDAD, Aug 7: Four Iranian intelligence officials have been arrested by Iraqi authorities on suspicion of spying and carrying out acts of sabotage in the country, a spokesman for Iraq's interior ministry said on Saturday.

"The investigation is still continuing. We will announce all the developments," Sabah Kadhim said.

Earlier, the Azzaman newspaper reported that four Iranian intelligence officers had been detained on suspicion of operating spy and sabotage operations out of a Baghdad house.

Forged documents, Iranian intelligence and Iraqi ID cards were confiscated during the arrests, Azzaman quoted an anonymous source as saying.

In Cairo, an Egyptian daily reported interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi as advising Iran not to interfere in his country's affairs amid a growing war of words between Baghdad and Tehran.

Defence Minister Hazem al Shaalan told the Washington Post last week that he had seen "clear interference in Iraqi issues by Iran" and accused Tehran of working "to kill democracy" in his country. -AFP