Radical Iraqi Shiite Moqtada Sadr visits Iran

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060122/wl_mideast_afp/iraniraqunrestshiitesadr_060122140912

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian officials have held talks with radical Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, a prominent opponent of US forces, with Tehran using the visit to repeat its call for foreign troops to quit Iraq.

"The American forces are there to dominate Iraqi interests," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who met the firebrand cleric, was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.

"The crisis existing in Iraq can be resolved with the departure of the occupying forces," the minister said Sunday.

IRNA quoted Sadr as saying: "We are happy that ties between the Iranian and the Iraqi nations are developing every day and we always support the strengthening of Iraq's relations with all neighbours, especially the Islamic republic of Iran."

Iran has been accused by both Britain and the United States of supporting Iraqi insurgents, charges the Islamic republic denies.

[bemildred]

1. Moqtada's been a busy guy lately. nt

[thebigidea]

2. whatever happened to WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE!

they forgot the obligatory "fireband" nestled in there with the radical cleric stuff.

[IndianaGreen]

3. And if the US or Israel were to attack Iran...

it will be our troops in Iraq that will bear the brunt of the Shia revenge.