Ahmadinejad: US should leave Iraq 36 minutes ago
BAGHDAD - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday lashed out at the United States during an unprecedented trip to Iraq and demanded that major powers leave the region. ADVERTISEMENT
The hardline Iranian leader also dismissed U.S. allegations that Iran was funding and training extremists in Iraq, a fellow Shiite Muslim-majority country.
Ahmadinejad, the first Iranian president to visit Iraq, said the foreign presence in the Arab country was an "insult to the regional nations and a humiliation."
"We believe that the major powers who have come to the region from thousands of kilometers away should respect the will of nations and leave this region. That's the best service they can offer these nations," Ahmadinejad said after meeting with Iraq's president on the two-day trip.
The Iranian leader said American claims that Iran aids militants in Iraq were based on bad facts.
"Of course American officials make such remarks and such statements, and we do not care about their statements and remarks because they make statements on the basis of erroneous information. And we cannot count on what they say," he told a news conference.
Ahmadinejad is scheduled to leave Iraq later Monday. The two countries, once bitter enemies, have deepened their ties since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday lashed at the United States during an unprecedented trip to Iraq and demanded that major powers leave the region.
Ahmadinejad, the first Iranian president to visit Iraq, said the foreign presence in the Arab country was an "insult to the regional nations and a humiliation."
"We believe that the major powers who have come to the region from thousands of kilometers away should respect the will of nations and leave this region. That's the best service they can offer these nations," the hardline Iranian leader told reporters after meeting with Iraq's president.