WAHINGTON, Dec 15: US President George Bush warned Iran and Syria on Wednesday against "meddling" in Iraq after that country's defence minister accused them of helping guerrillas and "terrorists" spread deadly chaos.
"We will continue to make it clear, to both Syria and Iran, that - as will other nations in our coalition, including our friends the Italians - that meddling in the internal affairs of Iraq is not in their interest," Mr Bush said as he wrapped up a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
His comments came after Iraq's Defence Minister Hazem Shaalan accused those two countries of orchestrating attacks in Iraq, branding Tehran in particular the "most dangerous enemy of Iraq".
"Iran is the most dangerous enemy of Iraq and all Arabs," Mr Shaalan said. "The source of terrorism in Iraq is Iran." Asked about Mr Shaalan's charges, Mr Bush replied: "We have made it very clear to the countries in the neighbourhood, including the two you mention, that we expect there to be help in establishing a society in which people are able to elect their leaders."
"We expect people to work with the Iraqi interim government to enforce (the) border to stop the flow of people and money that aim to help these terrorists. We've made that very clear and will continue to make it clear," he said.
"Terrorism is Iraq is orchestrated by Iranian intelligence, Syrian intelligence and Saddam (Hussein) loyalists, in collaboration with Zarqawi," Mr Shaalan said of Iraq's most wanted man, Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
"The financing and training of the terrorists comes from Syria and Iran," he added. Iranian government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said Mr Shaalan's outburst against his country was "propaganda for internal Iraqi consumption". "We are sure that he will backtrack on his statements as was the case in the past," Mr Ramezanzadeh said in Tehran. -AFP
