US - Iran's leader condemns US claims

February 12, 2007

Monday, 12 February 2007, 12:31 GMT

Iran's leader condemns US claims

Mr Ahmadinejad said foreign forces should leave IraqIran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says US accusations Tehran is fomenting violence in Iraq are an attempt to hide Washington's own failures.

Mr Ahmadinejad made the comments in a rare US television interview on Monday. US officials in Iraq had said they had evidence that Iran was providing weapons to Shia militias who attacked the US military. Senior Democrats in the US have urged the Bush administration to be cautious about such accusations against Iran. 'Baseless propaganda' In the interview with ABC Television in Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran " shied away from all conflict and bloodshed " . " We have made it clear the lack of security in Iraq is to our disadvantage, " he said. Mr Ahmadinejad was questioned repeatedly about the US claims. He said the accusations were " excuses to prolong the stay " of US forces and that no peace would come to Iraq while foreign troops remained. Mr Ahmadinejad said any claims of Iranian military supplies should have a " court to prove the case " . Earlier Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini had called the US allegations baseless propaganda. He said Washington had a long history of fabricating evidence. On Sunday, US officials said they had proof that Iran had provided sophisticated weapons which had been used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. The US claims have not been independently verified. The Bush administration denies it is planning to invade Iran but has indicated it is willing to use military force to deal with any Iranian interference inside Iraq.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6353923.stm

Dear List Members,

Dasha: VE/SA/RA/VE/RA

Transit Venus, L12, is still within the 5 degree orb of affliction of transit Rahu, and foreign relations keep on as predicted.

Best wishes,

Jorge