Allawi denies receving official invitation to visit Iran

Iraq's Interim prime minister Eyad Allawi in al-Manam yesterday denied abrogating his visit to Iran. He said he did not receive an official invitation to this effect.

In statements to the press in conclusion of his visit to Bahrain, he said that Iran did not extend any written, but a verbal invitation from the Iranian charge de afairs in Iraq, as part of compliments and was not an official invitation.

Allawi described the results of his Arab tour as positive, noting that the tour achieved important results at the leval of bilateral relations and the region, as well.

Allawi indicated that the elections that are due to be held in Januray 2005 will be held at its due date, adding that conditions in Iraq will not affect this date.