Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted on Monday in
Wiesbaden of Germany that he would visit Iran later Monday despite
reports on possible assassination plot against him.
"Of course I am going to Iran," Putin told a press conference
after he held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in
Wiesbaden.
"If you react to various threats and recommendations of the
security services, then you should sit at home," he said.
Earlier on Sunday evening, Russia's Interfax news agency
reported that a possible assassination plot had been organized
against Putin during his Iran tour.
"A reliable source in one of the Russian special services, has
received information from several sources outside Russia, that
during the president of Russia's visit to Tehran an assassination
attempt is being plotted," Interfax said.
Putin's visit to Iran is the first by a Kremlin leader since
then Soviet leader Josef Stalin's visit in 1943.
Putin is expected to talk with Iranian leaders over the nuclear
issue during his trip to Tehran.
Russia is one party within the six-power talks designed to
reinin Iran's nuclear ambitions, which also include the US, China,
Britain, France and Germany.
(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2007)
