Furious Iran wants action over scientist's killing

The assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist sparked deep fury in Tehran today against prime suspect Israel and against the United States, which said it had nothing to do with the murder.

Some hardline newspapers even called for retaliatory action, with one, Keyhan, saying in an editorial that "assassinations of Israeli officials and military are achievable."

The Iranian government's reaction was just as angry, though more measured.

In a letter demanding a strong condemnation from the UN Security Council, it said it had evidence unnamed "foreign quarters" were behind the killing of scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old deputy director of Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility died when two riders on a motor bike drove by his car trapped in Tehran's rush-hour traffic and slapped onto it a magnetic bomb that directed a deadly blast inside the vehicle.

The blast also killed Ahmadi Roshan's driver/bodyguard and wounded a third occupant of the Peugeot 405.

The attack was similar to four others that have occurred in Tehran in the past two years.

Three scientists died, at least two of whom also worked on Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Another, who now heads the country's atomic energy organisation, escaped just in time.

Ahmadi Roshan was to be buried on Friday, after Iran's traditional weekly Muslim prayers.

The latest attack dominated Iran's media on Thursday.

Many outlets criticised what they said was the silence of the West over the killings. More conservative titles urged tit-for-tat covert action against Israel.