Iran: US, UK should leave Iraq, region
Iraq-Iran-USA, Politics, 11/7/2006

Security followed by widespread enjoyment of freedoms and a flourishing of cultures and civilizations in the Middle East will be possible only if US and British forces leave the region, said Iran's government spokesman.

Gholam Hossein Elham was speaking to reports strongly urging the US to hold direct talks with Iran to settle the increasing violence in Iraq.

"The US should (first) settle the problem of its illegal presence in Iraq. Its presence in the country is completely illegal now that a popular government has been established and a constitution approved by the state," he said.

"Iraqis are a civilized people with a rich culture and political tradition," he added.

Alluding to the death sentence handed down Friday by an Iraqi court on former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the spokesman recalled the US' support for Saddam Hussein during the decades when he committed the crimes against his people for which he was indicted.

"Washington had a role in Saddam's crimes," Elham said.

He said Iraq had no sophisticated problems which could not be solved.

"If the US withdraws from Iraq, the Iraqi people will manage their affairs." He said the US needs to observe political and moral rules.

"Washington brought in soldiers to a region who are quite unfamiliar with its environment. These soldiers are at the service of arrogant US military officials." The spokesman urged the US to compensate for its mistakes in Iraq and leave the country's affairs to its people.

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  Iran: conflict not with Iraq policy, but US   (10/3/2006)
  Iran role for Iraq's security positive: official   (9/27/2006)
  Asefi: US policy in Iraq doomed to failure   (8/14/2006)
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