Iran accuses US of spy flights

NEW YORK - Iran has found the wreckage of two United States unmanned spy planes on its territory in recent months, Tehran said, accusing Washington of violating its sovereignty through illegal overflights.

Iran "strongly protests against such unlawful acts and emphasises the necessity to observe the principles of international law concerning the sanctity of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," its Foreign Ministry said.

The Pentagon had no immediate comment to the protest, which came in letters to the US Government written months ago but made public at the United Nations only yesterday.

They described the crash of a Shadow 200 RQ-7 drone in Ilam Province last July, 460km from the border, and of a Hermes drone in the Khoram Abad area on August 25, found 200km inside Iranian territory.

An investigation found that both of the unmanned aircraft were American, the Foreign Ministry said. Its letters were delivered to the Swiss Embassy in Tehran for transmission to US authorities as Iran has no diplomatic ties with the US.

The Bush Administration has accused Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons under the guise of a peaceful nuclear energy programme. Britain and the US also suspect Tehran of smuggling arms to insurgents in Iraq.

- REUTERS