Blast at Iran refinery as Ahmadinejad visitsMay 24, 2011 - 16:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An explosion blamed on a gas leak rocked Iran's largest oil refinery shortly before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived at the site for a scheduled visit Tuesday, an Iranian news agency reported. The semi-official Fars news agency said the blast took place in the morning hours, just before Ahmadinejad was to inaugurate an expansion project at the refinery in the southwestern city of Abadan. At least 20 people were injured from the blast, which set of a fire at the site, the report said. The explosion was blamed on a "gas leakage" but there were no further details. Another report, by the semi-official Mehr news agency said at least two people were killed and that the blast took place while Ahmadinejad was visiting. It said the president ordered a special plane to airlift those critically injured to Tehran. The state television, meanwhile, said the explosion happened after Ahmadinejad had left the site. A live broadcast by the TV showed the president speaking to local officials at the refinery. The reports said firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze that followed the explosion. But the discrepancies in the media reports about the sequence of events at Abadan could not immediately be reconciled. Officials at the site could not be reached for comment, AP reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |