China denies scuttling Iran nukes meet |
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Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:53
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BEIJING (Thomson Financial) - China has denied that it had forced the cancellation of a meeting of world powers on Iran over its nuclear programme, but acknowledged its representative could not attend.'There have been reports that the planned meeting in Brussels these days was cancelled because of China. These reports are wrong,' said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.Liu said China's 'difficulties' were due to a scheduling conflict for assistant foreign minister He Yafei, who could not attend because he was in Singapore for an Association of Southeast Asia Nations' summit.'It is a technical issue,' he said.The meeting of permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany was due to take place on Monday in Brussels to discuss possible sanctions for Iran.But it was cancelled after China, which opposes sanctions on Iran, said it would not attend, a diplomatic source last week told Agence France Presse.On Thursday last week, Washington -- which charges Tehran in trying to build a nuclear bomb and has been pushing hard for tougher action against Iran -- warned China not to block fresh United Nations sanctions against Iran.China, which has a Security Council veto and strong trade ties with Iran, is wary of imposing more sanctions, as is Russia.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comAFP/nesCOPYRIGHTCopyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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US downplays talk of attack on Iran UPDATE 