Iraq 'does not like America'

Agence France-Presse

IRANIAN president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said overnight Iraq "does not want" the US and dismissed President George W. Bush's charge that Tehran supports militants in Iraq.

"Bush cannot solve US problems in the region by accusing others. Gone is the era of accusations. The Iraqi nation does not want the US," Mr Ahmadinejad said at a joint news conference with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad.

Yesterday, ahead of Mr Ahmadinejad's landmark visit to Baghdad, Mr Bush accused him of "exporting terror" to Iraq.

Speaking at his ranch in Texas, the US president called on Iran to "quit sending in sophisticated equipment that's killing our citizens".

Washington accuses Tehran of supplying weapons to anti-US insurgents and training them. Iran denies the charges.

Mr Maliki said Mr Ahmadinejad's visit "represents the desire of both countries to deepen the joint interests".

"We had talks related to trade, industry. This is a very matured visit ... in the past there was tension," Mr Maliki said in an apparent allusion to devastating 1980-88 war between the two neighbours when Saddam Hussein's regime was still in power.

He said Mr Ahmadinejad's visit was a message to Arab states to develop ties with Iraq.

"This is a message to the neighbouring countries and a positive message to reinforce their relations with Iraq," Mr Maliki said..........