Musharraf denies Iran bomb remark

BBC News:

Pakistan has denied that President Pervez Musharraf told a German magazine that Iran was "very anxious" to have a nuclear bomb.

Iran demanded an urgent clarification after the comments were carried in Der Spiegel magazine on Saturday. READ MORE

Pakistan's foreign office spokesman, Jalil Abbas Jilani, said the president had been misquoted.

Iran, under an international nuclear investigation for two years, says its industry is for peaceful purposes.

Disgraced scientist

In the magazine article, President Musharraf said he did not know how to stop Iran from developing a military nuclear programme.

Mr Jilani confirmed this, but the magazine also quoted President Musharraf as saying: "They are very anxious to have the bomb."

Mr Jilani said the president had not made the remark.