Bolivia expresses regrets to Argentina over Iranian minister visit

Bolivia has expressed regret to neighbouring Argentina for inviting Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi for a visit.

General Vahidi is hunted by Argentina for purportedly organizing the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that executed 85 people.

Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca wrote to his Argentine foreign minister, stating Mr. Vahidi would be sending off instantly.

Iran has long rejected any connection in the violence. On Tuesday, Gen Vahidi was presented in a military ceremony in the city of Santa Cruz, in the existence of Bolivian President Evo Morales.

The Argentine officials responded instantly to news of Gen Vahidi's visit, informing Bolivian authorities that they had required his detention since 2007. Guillermo Borger, head of the Amia, the Jewish association whose building was damaged in 1994, described Gen Vahidi's existence a "aggravation".

Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca subsequently sent a letter to Hector Timerman, his Argentine counterpart, expressing his government's "deepest apologies".

The invitation, Mr Choquehuanca wrote, had been issued by the Bolivian defense ministry which did not familiar the background to the case and had not consulted with other departments.

Sources told Reuter’s news agency that the minister had left Bolivia late on Tuesday.

Since 2007, Interpol has had a red notice in place for General Vahidi, enlightening its 187 member states that Argentina was looking for his capture.

When the Amia attack was made, Gen Vahidi was the commanding officer of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force.

Iran has constantly said none of its citizens were engaged in the 1994 violence.