Posted on 05/04/2003 5:00:32 AM PDT by knighthawk
TEHRAN, May 3 (AFP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has offered his country's help to establish a democratic regime in neighboring Iraq, the official IRNA news reported Saturday.
During telephone talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, the Iranian president said: "Iran is ready to help create a democractic government in Iraq.
"Democracy can not be imposed, it should be attained through participation of all religious and ethnic groups."
Khatami repeated Iran's opposition to the war against Iraq but allowed that the toppling of Saddam Hussein was "beneficial" for the region.
A continuation of the US-British military presence in Iraq however will cause "numerous problems," he warned, adding that Iraqis should determine their destiny by themselves.
A US ceasefire agreement concluded recently with an Iraq-based armed Iranian opposition group, the Mujahedeen Khalq Organisation (MKO) incited "pessimism" over the United States' proclaimed campaign against terrorism, Khatami said.
The US has accused Iran of seeking to use Iraq's Shiite majority to push for an Islamic government and undermine Washington's plans for democracy there, and has warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq.
Tehran has repeatedly denied any such interference.
That's a lovely thought. So why is a Persian Iranian wanting to butt in on Arab Iraqis?
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