World News: Iranian nuclear scientist in American torture claims

Published on Wednesday 14 July 2010 09:28

An Iranian nuclear scientist claimed today that he suffered extreme mental and physical torture at the hands of US interrogators after disappearing last year, adding to Tehran's allegations he was abducted by American agents.

Shahram Amiri was embraced by his family - including his seven-year-old son - after arriving in Tehran in the latest spectacle of a puzzling series of events that left Iran and Washington with starkly different accounts.

Mr Amiri flashed a V-for-victory sign as he stepped into the terminal.

Iran portrayed the return of Mr Amiri as a blow to US intelligence services that were desperate for inside information on Iran's nuclear programme.

A top envoy from Iran's foreign ministry was on hand to greet him.

Washington described 32-year-old Mr Amiri as someone who reached out to US officials, but offered few other details.

Speaking after a flight via Qatar, Mr Amiri repeated his earlier claims he was snatched while on a pilgrimage last year in the Saudi holy city of Medina and carried off to the United States. "I was under the harshest mental and physical torture," he said.

Iraq takes control of last US-run prison

Iraq: The US military handed over Tariq Aziz and dozens of other members of Saddam Hussein's inner circle to Iraqi authorities who will assume control today of the last American-run detention facility in the country.

Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez is to rethink relations with the Vatican as tensions rise between the government and Church representatives accusing Chavez of being increasingly authoritarian.

Ship dug up at Ground Zero

Workers excavating at the World Trade Center in New York unearthed the 32-foot-long hull of a ship likely to have been buried in the 18th century.

Archaeologists said the vessel was probably used to fill in land to extend lower Manhattan into the Hudson River.

20 killed as typhoon hits

More than 20 people died and another 40 were missing today after the Philippines was lashed by the first typhoon of the season.

More than half of the island of Luzon, which includes Manila, was without electricity. It was expected to take up to three days to restore power.

Bin Laden comedy is banned

Pakistan has banned an Indian-made comedy film about Osama bin Laden fearing it could spark terrorist attacks.

Tere Bin Laden is about a journalist who pretends to get an interview with the al-Qaida chief after finding a look-alike.

Fresh BP bid to stop leak

BP allayed last-minute government fears of making the disaster worse and started trying to slowly choke off the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, in the hope of finally stopping the leak.

Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said the government gave the go-ahead after carefully reviewing the risks of the procedure.

The plan is a test of whether a new temporary well cap can withstand the pressure and ultimately contain the oil.

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