Africa mobile giant MTN asks court to throw out Turkcell suit

(Reuters) – African mobile operator MTN asked a U.S. court on Tuesday to dismiss a US$4.2 billion suit brought by rival Turkcell after alleged underhand tactics to obtain an Iranian mobile license.

MTN said the suit by Istanbul-based Turkcell had no legal merit and that the US court did not have jurisdiction.

Africa’s largest mobile operator said Turkcell was expected to respond to its motion to dismiss on August1 and it would then give a response by August 15.

The court’s decision was expected later this year, MTN said.

Turkcell says MTN bribed both South African and Iranian officials and asked South Africa to provide weapons to Iran to acquire the permit.

Turkey’s largest mobile operator initially won a bid for the license in 2004. Tehran later backed out of the deal and awarded the business to MTN in 2005.