WASHINGTON, April 25: The United States will not allow a pro-Iranian government to be established in Iraq, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday.

“A vocal minority claiming to transform Iraq in Iran will not be permitted to do so,” Mr Rumsfeld said.

“There is no question that the government of Iran has encouraged people to go into the country and that they have people in the country attempting to influence the country.

“My impression is that the Shias in the country are Iraqis and the Shias outside the country from Iran are Persians. My guess is that the Iraqi people would prefer to be governed by Iraqis and not Persians.”

Iran has angrily rejected US allegations of “interference” in Iraq, warning US troops not to cross into Iran and voicing alarm over a deal between the US military and the Iraq-based People’s Mujahedeen opposition group.

US President George Bush on Thursday called for Iran to cooperate with US appeals to stay out of southern Iraq.

“We certainly hope that Iran will allow Iraq to develop into a stable and peaceful society. We have sent the word to the Iranians that that’s what we expect,” Bush told NBC television.—AFP