Iranian president in talks with Iraqi prime minister designate

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister-Designate Jawad al-Maliki today expressed hope the formation of a new and full-term Iraqi government would pave the way for establishment of a powerful popular administration in Iraq.

Felicitating Al-Maliki on his assumption of office, President Ahmadinejad said formation of the new Iraqi government would pave the way for withdrawal of occupying forces from the war-torn country.

It should also pave the way for the the Iraqi nation to be invested with full powers to run the government and build a modern and powerful Iraq, added the president.

Referring to the religious commonalities shared by Iran and Iraq as well as their long history of bilateral relations, Ahmadinejad said the "Iranian nation will support the Iraqi nation and its popular government." Al-Maliki, for his part, lauded Tehran's positive stances on Iraqi developments and called for expansion of bilateral ties.

He said that enhanced relations between the two capitals would help promote and defend regional peace, stability and security.

"Iraq's new government will try to broaden its ties with every country, its neighbors in particular," Al-Maliki said.

He said that Iraqis were currently shouldering the heavy burden of finding a way out of the ruins and problems left over from decades of dictatorial rule by Saddam Hussein.

The prime minister-designate, moreover, said that the nation and authorities of this war-ravaged country are determined to pass through this difficult stage in their history with the help of God and of friends, including Iran.

Al-Maliki was appointed prime minister of Iraq on Saturday by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. His appointment awaits ratification by the Iraqi parliament.