TEHRAN, March 12 (UPI) -- Iran has evidence to suggest captured militant leader Abdolmalek Rigi had financial support from "at least" three foreign countries, the Iranian president said.
Tehran announced in February that the Iranians had custody of Jundallah leader Rigi. Jundallah claimed responsibility for an October attack in southern Iran that left several members of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps dead.
The Iranians claimed Rigi was captured when Iranian fighter jets forced his flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan to land in Iran. Baluchi Kamal Narui, a spokesman for Jundallah, told London's pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that Rigi was arrested in Kandahar with the help of Israeli spies.
Tehran claims the ringleader spoke with Western officials before his arrest.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on authorities in the United Arab Emirates to provide assistant in uncovering who gave Rigi faked identification cards, state broadcaster Press TV reports.
"We have asked our counterparts in the (United Arab Emirates) to make the necessary arrangements to track down those who issue fake passports and travel documents for terrorists in Dubai," Ahmadinejad said.
Iran claims Rigi was carrying an Afghan passport when he was arrested in February.
Ahmadinejad went on to say that his country had evidence to suggest Rigi had "received political, financial and publicity support from at least three countries."
