Iran government denies 'cover-up' over shot down airliner

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran’s government on Monday denied a "cover-up" after it took days for the armed forces to admit a Ukrainian airliner was shot down by mistake last week.

"In these sorrowful days, many criticisms were directed at relevant officials and authorities... some officials were even accused of lying and a cover-up but, in all honesty, that was not the case,"" spokesman Ali Rabiei said in remarks aired on state television.