Iranian diplomat case adjourned

Extradition proceedings against a former Iranian ambassador to Argentina arrested in connection with the bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires opened today and were adjourned for five weeks.

Hadi Soleimanpour, released on 730,000 pounds ($1.2 million) bail a week ago, sat impassively in the dock at Bow Street Magistrate's court as district judge Christopher Pratt announced the adjournment to October 23 to give the Argentine government time to submit full evidence supporting its formal extradition request.

Soleimanpour, now studying at the University of Durham in northeastern England, was detained last month in connection with the 1994 car bombing that killed 85 people.

The case has soured already taught diplomatic relations between Britain and Iran -- which has recalled its ambassador to London -- and Iran and Argentina, with which Tehran has cut economic and cultural ties.

Iran says the case is politically motivated, and Soleimanpour has maintained his innocence.

Argentina claims he provided support to the bombers and that they were based at the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires.

Prosecutor James Hines said Home Secretary David Blunkett had only received the formal extradition request and the first 2,600 pages of supporting documentation on Thursday, and needed five weeks to examine the information -- and any further Argentine documents -- and decide whether to ask the court to proceed with the case.

If Blunkett decides there are no grounds to proceed, Soleimanpour will be free to go, and the bail deposits -- of which 500,000 pounds is from the Iranian government and 200,000 pounds from his own parents -- will be returned.

Alternatively Blunkett can ask the court to begin combing through the documentation to decide whether there is a case for extradition.

As he left the court on Friday, Soleimanpour was greeted by 20 placard-waving members of the Iranian opposition repeatedly chanting the single word "terrorist".