Politics > Politics-USA > Iraqi PM Rejects U.S. and British accusations that Iran interfering in Iraq
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Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"plonk" |
| Date: |
06 Oct 2005 06:02:03 PM |
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Iraqi PM Rejects U.S. and British accusations that Iran interfering in Iraq |
Iran not interfering in Iraq-Iraqi prime minister
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06105261.htm
Source: Reuters 06 Oct 2005
(Adds quotes, background)
TEHRAN, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Iraq's Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari on
Thursday rejected accusations that Shi'ite Muslim Iran was interfering
in Iraq's internal affairs.
Asked about accusations that Iran was interfering in the internal
affairs of Iraq, Jaafari told Iranian state television: "Such
accusations are baseless and we do not agree with them at all."
"Relations between Iran and Iraq are currently very friendly and
strong and expanding. We are proud of the situation," he said. "Some
people want to harm our existing friendly relations with Iran. But we
will not let them do so. We are determined to expand our relations
every day."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday that evidence
pointed to Iran or its Lebanese Hizbollah allies as the source of
explosives used in roadside bombs in Iraq, although Britain did not
have conclusive proof.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal has also criticised
Iran's growing influence in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iraq.
Tehran denies it helps militants in Iraq.
Jaafari said an Iraqi cabinet minister would shortly visit Iran to
follow up on a number of agreements signed between the two countries
which have considerably improvd relations since the fall of Saddam
Hussein in 2003.
Under Saddam, Iraq and Iran fought a bitter 1980-1988 war in which
hundreds of thousands of people died.
This article linked from: http://www.antiwar.com/
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