Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

'Assassination Plot' Won't Stop Putin's Iran Visit

Russian Prez shrugs off reports of conspiracy to kill or capture him

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2007 5:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Iran this week, despite news reports of an assassination plot against him there. Russian security services received warnings that suicide bombers and kidnappers were training to kill or capture the president, according to the Russian news service Interfax. Putin dismissively waved off reporters seeking to question him about the reports yesterday as he headed into meetings in Germany.

An Iranian spokesman called the assassination news report “psychological warfare” to undermine Russian-Iranian relations, despite the fact that Russian officials later confirmed the information. The West is watching Putin’s visit closely, hoping he’ll defuse nuclear tensions with Iran. Russia is helping Iran build a nuclear reactor, and Putin has called for Western leaders to engage Iran instead of isolating it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on as he arrives at Rhein-Main airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007.  Putin arrived to attend the  Petersburg Dialogue. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on as he arrives at Rhein-Main airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. Putin arrived to attend the Petersburg Dialogue. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks  during an awarding ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. President Vladimir Putin presented Tuesday state awards to public and state figures in the Kremlin.  (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an awarding ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. President Vladimir Putin presented Tuesday state awards to public and state figures...   (Associated Press)
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Obama Ready to Cut Nukes Again

West Backed Arab Spring for Corporate Gain: Putin

Russia Silent on Iran Concessions

Bye, Bye, Petro-Czars

Russian Alliance Crucial to Disarming Iran


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment