Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Rice: Iran lets insurgents cross its border into Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New York, Oct 20, IRNA
Iran-US-Rice
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington Wednesday accused Iran and Syria of letting "insurgents" across their borders to join their "comrades" in Iraq.

Rice who was testifying before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee answered US senators' questions regarding Bush
administration's foreign relations, specially on Iraq.

"Iran and Syria should decide if they are on the side of ideals of peace or war.

Tehran and Damascus permit foreign insurgents and military assistance to reach insurgents inside Iraq."
"In relations with Syria we are concerned about infiltration through the border with Iraq, uncontrolled passenger networks, and suspicious traffic of young people at Damascus Assad International Airport," she underlined without elaborating.

Also, Republican Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in statements claimed that several of Iraq's neighbors, notably Iran and Syria, meddle in Iraqi internal affairs.

Rice said that the US strategy is to move from a transitional situation to a permanent one to establish a stable government and ruling system.

"Our strategy in Iraq is moping up, reconstruction and protection of regions in the country."
Starting next month the US government will use "the Afghanistan approach" for establishing stability and embarking on reconstruction in Iraq, she stated.

In this vein, diplomatic and military groups and other groups for reconstruction of Iraqi provinces will stand by Iraqi military forces to assist provincial administrative apparatus in training police, and military, as well as setting up courts and rendering other types of services, Rice added.

Rice also called the result of vote on Iraqi constitution a "significant victory."
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday that US is following up interventionist goals under guise of international campaign against terrorism.

"It has become clear now that US war against Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has been nothing more than a lie and the US has been discredited before the world public opinion," Mottaki said.

He said that US has embarked on an old and repetitive game to sow discord among the Islamic nations to press ahead with ominous goals.

Washington is following unilateral goals in the international community, has occupied Iraq and supports Zionist regime which poses threat to the world peace, he said.

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