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US commander accuses Iran of meddling in Iraqi vote |
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Friday, 16 December 2005 |
 WASHINGTON (AFP) - A top US commander Friday accused Iran of
meddling in Iraq's elections, saying it invested heavily in political
parties in the south and seeks to influence the formation of a new
government.
"I don't have hard, smoking gun-type evidence, but the intelligence we
have tells us they invested heavily in political parties supportive of
Iran in the south," said General George Casey, who commands US forces
in Iraq.
"And I believe they will continue to attempt to influence the formation
of this government over the coming weeks, to get a government that they
believe is supportive of their interests," he said.
"That is worrisome and it is a challenge for us," he added.
Casey spoke to reporters here via video-link from Baghdad the day after
Iraqis turned out in large numbers across the country to elect a
275-member national parliament.
He said that Syria, in contrast, appears to have taken some measures to
prevent the flow of foreign fighters and suicide bombers into Iraq.
US leaders have harshly criticized Damascus for months for failing to
control its borders and stop the movement of fighters and money into
Iraq. |
