? ?
WORLD / Middle East
Iran ready to fill any vacuum in Iraq
(AP)
Updated: 2007-08-29 10:22
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boldly declared
Tuesday that US political influence in Iraq is "collapsing rapidly" and
said his government is ready to help fill any power vacuum.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks with media during a press
conference in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. [AP]
The?leader also defended Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a fellow
Shiite Muslim who has been harshly criticized by American politicians for
his unsuccessful efforts to reconcile Iraq's Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
"The political power of the occupiers is collapsing rapidly," Ahmadinejad
said at a news conference, referring to US troops in Iraq. "Soon, we will
see a huge power vacuum in the region. Of course, we are prepared to fill
the gap, with the help of neighbors and regional friends like Saudi
Arabia, and with the help of the Iraqi nation."
Ahmadinejad did not elaborate on his remarks, an unusual declaration of
Iran's interest in influencing its neighbor's future.?Even though Saudi
Arabia and Iran have not cooperated in the past, it "doesn't mean it
can't happen," Ahmadinejad said.
Iran fought a brutal eight-year war with Saddam Hussein's regime and
welcomed the elimination of a deeply hated enemy. Iran also strongly
objects to the presence of America, another rival, over its eastern and
western borders in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"Occupation is the root of all problems in Iraq," Ahmadinejad said. "It
has become clear that occupiers are not able to resolve regional issues."
President Bush defended the Iraq war in a speech at the American Legion's
national convention and accused Iran of violating human rights and trying
to destabilize Iraq, Afghanistan and the wider region.
"Iran is sending arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan to be used to attack
American and NATO troops," Bush said. "Iran has arrested visiting
American scholars who have committed no crimes and impose no threat to
their regime. And Iran's active pursuit of technology that could lead to
nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability
and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust. Iran's actions
threaten the security of nations everywhere."
Bush and the US ambassador in Iraq have given blunt assessments of
political stagnation in Baghdad, and Bush has said it is up to the Iraqi
people to decide if their government deserved to be replaced.
But key Democratic politicians, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton,
have called for al-Maliki to be replaced because his Shiite-dominated
government has been unable to forge national unity.
Al-Maliki has shrugged off the gloomy assessments of Iraq's future,
saying he would "pay no attention" to American critics and if necessary
"find friends elsewhere."
"They rudely say (the Iraqi) prime minister and the constitution must
change," Ahmadinejad said of US critics. "Who are you? Who has given you
the right" to ask for such a change, he added.
Ousting al-Maliki, a longtime Shiite political activist, would require a
majority vote in the 275-member Iraqi parliament. As long as the Kurdish
parties and the main Shiite bloc back al-Maliki, his opponents lack the
votes for that.
?? ?? 1?? 2?? ??
?? ?? 1?? 2?? ??
Top World News ?
* 12 South Koreans freed in Afghanistan
* US troops release detained Iranians
* US, DPRK to hold talks in Geneva
* Taliban release 8 South Korean hostages
* Taliban say to start releasing Koreans
Today's Top News ?
* China's inflation to surpass 3% for full year
* Autumn harvest under severe threat
* Helmsley's dog gets $12 million in will
* 12 South Koreans freed in Afghanistan
* Taliban release 8 Korean hostages
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese language, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment