US man leaks secrets on Iran

2005-05-04 17:18

Washington - The FBI arrested a defence department analyst on Wednesday on charges that he passed classified information on Iran to employees of a pro-Israel lobbying group.

Larry Franklin, 58, turned himself in on Wednesday, FBI spokesperson Debra Weierman said.

He was scheduled to make an initial appearance in US district court in Virginia later in the day, Weierman said.

Franklin, who specialised on Iran and Middle Eastern affairs, allegedly gave the information to two people not entitled to receive it at a meeting in June 2003.

The people at the lunch were employees of the American Israel public affairs committee (AIPAC), a law enforcement official said on condition of anonymity because they are not identified in court papers.

FBI agents twice searched AIPAC offices as part of the investigation about whether Israel improperly obtained classified US information on Iran.

They also have interviewed two AIPAC employees about whether Franklin gave them classified information that would up with Israel.

AIPAC said it gave the FBI files related to those same two employees, who previously were identified - Steve Rosen, the director of research, and Keith Weissman, deputy director of foreign policy issues.

They don't work for the group anymore.

AIPAC declined to comment on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear how the information related to Iran.

- AP