Tehran: Iran on Tuesday criticised "crimes"
committed by US and other NATO troops in neighbouring
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and said the allied forces should
leave the region as soon as possible.
"The crimes committed by US, British and NATO forces that
we have witnessed in the past few days in Afghanistan against
innocent women and children and in Pakistan only blacken
further the image of these countries for the population of the
region," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told
reporters.
His comment followed the murderous rampage in Afghanistan
on Sunday of a rogue US soldier who broke into three village
houses and killed 16 people, mainly women and children.
The act has inflamed hostility against US and NATO forces
in Afghanistan, while anti-US sentiment in Pakistan is also
running high following numerous drone raids and incidents that
have killed civilians.
Mehmanparast said the United States and its allies "must
withdraw their troops from the countries of the region as soon
as possible, in order not to further boost the hate of the
region`s people against them."
PTI
