Tehran, May 31: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today called for Islamic countries to unite to face what he said was American rule in Iraq, state television reported. "The United States, like any other 19th century colonialist, is trying to impose an American governor in Iraq," Khamenei was quoted as saying at a meeting with the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Abdulwahed Belkeziz.
"Islamic countries must put aside their minor differences in Iraq and collectively stand against this," he added.
"The Islamic world should reject any government in Iraq, except one elected by the Iraqis, and it should stick to this position," Khamenei said.
His remarks come as the United States has warned Iran against interfering in Iraq. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday accused Iran of sending elite troop into Iraq in a bid to destabilise the country.
In the past few weeks, Washington has stepped up its criticisms of Tehran, and accused it of giving refuge to al-Qaeda members, but Tehran has sternly denied the charges.
"The Islamic nations have no choice but to resist the enemies of Islam and this resistance is only possible if the Islamic countries unite," Khamenei said.
There has been speculation in the US media that the Pentagon could seek to foment a popular uprising in Iran to destabilise the Islamic regime, but us officials have denied this is the case.
Bureau Report