The international police agency, Interpol, plans to requestfor the arrest of five prominent Iranians and a Lebanese allegedly involved inthe 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural centre in Argentina'scapital, Buenos Aires.

But Tehranis expected to appeal against the international requests, an Iranian officialsaid on Thursday.

The bombing killed 85 people and wounded 200.

Interpol added on Thursday that it had turned down Argentina'srequest for help in the arrests of three other Iranians, including HashemiRafsanjani, the former president.

It plans to issue "red notices" for the Iranianson March 31, unless either Iranor Argentinaappeals the decision first, failing which the matter would be discussed atInterpol's general assembly in November.

Iranian denials

Argentinian prosecutors have alleged that the attackwas orchestrated by leaders of the Iranian government and executed by theLebanon-based Hezbollah.

The six people on Interpol's list include Ali Fallahijan,the former Iranian intelligence chief.

Imad Moughnieh, a Lebanese, is also wanted forallegedly kidnapping Westerners in Lebanonin the 1980s, and suicide attacks on the USembassy and a US marine basein Lebanonwhich killed more than 260 Americans.

Iranhas denied involvement in the bombing and said it would oppose any attempt todetain its citizens.

Luis Grynwald, head of the Jewish centre in Buenos Aires, which was rebuilt after theattack, hailed Interpol's move.

"The resolution by Interpol gives strong backing to theefforts of the prosecutor and the Argentine judiciary," Grynwald said.

"This shows that the Iranian regime has to co-operatein efforts to clarify this attack and not impede the search for thetruth."

US pressure

The three Iranians Interpol declined to issue red noticesfor are Rafsanjani, Ali Akbar Velayati, the former foreign minister and HadiSoleimanpour, the former ambassador to Buenos Aires.

Mohsen Baharvand, an Iranian diplomat in Argentina, said the US was applying political pressurein the case.

He said Argentinian officials had no evidence to backwarrants for the Iranians.

"The decision of Interpol is not acceptable for Iran,"Baharvand said.

Iran and Argentina areInterpol members.

Fair treatment

"Both parties have been treated fairly and impartiallyby Interpol, and the organisation's rules have been meticulously appliedthroughout the dispute resolution process," Jackie Selebi, Interpol'spresident, said.

A red notice is an Interpol request that a wanted person bearrested for possible extradition.

It cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects,but people with red notice status appear on Interpol's equivalent of amost-wanted list.

Source: Agencies