DAMASCUS, Sept 8: Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said on Monday that Tehran would like to see a democratic government in Iraq expel US-led occupation forces, after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad here.

“It is important that the Iraqi people form a democratic government and secure good relations” with neighbouring countries, Kharazi told reporters after talks with Assad and Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara.

“This (Iraqi) government should, certainly, get rid of the occupation forces,” he said.

“The Iraqi people should manage their affairs under the aegis of the United Nations and form a totally free government,” added Kharazi, who described talks with Abbas as “excellent.”

The United States has put Syria and Iran under intense pressure not to interfere in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein on April 9.

Shortly after arriving in Damascus earlier, Kharazi said: “A permanent coordination (between Syria and Iran) is essential in light of developments in Iraq and Palestine.”

“The Iranian and Syrian governments are close and work in coordination to find ways of solving the crisis and strengthening security in the region.”

Kharazi denied US accusations that some of those behind recent attacks in Iraq are from the Iran. “Iran has not interfered in Iraqi affairs at all,” he said.

About the Arab-Israeli conflict, Kharazi branded Israel “enemy number one” of the Middle East peace process.

“As long as the United States supports Israel 100 per cent, we cannot expect a just and total peace in the region,” the minister said.

“No political plan can succeed unless it takes into account the rights of the Palestinian people,” he added.

Kharazi and Assad discussed “Iraq, the Palestinian question and bilateral relations,” the Iranian minister said, stressing that Tehran and Damascus held “very close” positions with regard to the Middle East.

He is due to speak at a ceremony in Damascus later Monday to condole the death of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, who was killed on Aug 29 in a deadly car bombing in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf.

The minister said Hakim’s death was “a crime carried out by enemies of Iraq,” and that “all communities of the Iraqi people face enemy plots.”

Kharazi is due to leave Damascus on Tuesday morning.—AFP