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And one final statement that we will be putting out after the briefing in written form, concerns the imprisoned Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji. Over the past week the United States has received reports that jailed Iranian activist, Akbar Ganji's health is at serious risk. This is consistent with his wife's charge in late October that Iranian authorities are continuing to beat Ganji, and similar nongovernmental organizations report that he was abused, even while hospitalized, following his August 2005 hunger strike. Mr. Ganji has spent more than five years in prison due to his peaceful advocacy for free speech and democracy. His imprisonment and any inhumane treatment are serious violations of fundamental human rights.
The United States calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Akbar Ganji as well as his immediate access to medical assistance and legal representation. Ganji is one of many courageous Iranians like Ahmed Batebi, Hoda Saber, Taghi Rahmani and Reza Alijani who have challenged the clerical regime's repressive policies and who have suffered dire consequences for their efforts to advance the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people. The United States calls on the international community to continue to press for the release of all political prisoners in Iran.
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QUESTION: Thank you. Tomorrow early will be November 4th in Washington time when Iranian student for Khomeini attacked the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and hold the diplomat -- American diplomat hostage. You said and White House said that the Ahmadi-Nejad, the President of the Iranian Government, is -- was at the time a leader of the student organization organized that attack. My question is do you continue the investigation regarding this matter, or the investigation has been closed by the U.S. Government?
MR. MCCORMACK: I think we got to the point where there were still unanswered questions and the only way to completely resolve those unanswered questions was -- were from definitive statements from President Ahmadi-Nejad as well as the Iranian Government. To this point, we have not heard from them. We have heard from them sort of in only the most general terms. There are certainly different memories of his potential participation, I think, that in terms -- in the interview process that's the conclusion we arrived at. We in no way want to discount the recollections of those who say that he was -- he was involved in some fashion in the questioning and the holding of the hostages. So we have arrived at a point where really it is only -- it is -- the ball is in the Iranians' court in order to answer these unresolved questions.
Certainly we have not forgotten the events of that date and the subsequent 444 days. The act of taking that embassy was a criminal act. And certainly we think that it is incumbent upon President Ahmadi-Nejad and the Iranian Government to answer these unanswered questions.
