TEHRAN, Jan 9: Iran said on Sunday it was opposed to any postponement of Iraq elections scheduled for January 30, arguing that delay could worsen the security situation there.

"The elections, God willing, will be held at the scheduled time and with a massive turnout," President Mohammad Khatami told reporters. Khatami said he wanted to see "a government come to office and prepare the ground for the exit of occupation forces", as well as "cooperation between all regional and world countries to reconstruct Iraq."

For his part, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters that "holding the elections on time would permit the creation of the conditions required for the departure of foreign forces and an improvement in security." He warned "a delay would just be like a cancellation."

Asefi also responded to the latest allegations of Iranian and Syrian interference made by Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem al-Shaalan, who in his latest diatribe threatened to instigate violence in these two countries. "Mr Shaalan was angry because he is one of the Iraqi officials who will not be staying in power after the elections," Asefi said. -AFP