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| US accuses Iran over Iraq attacks |
| Senior US officials have singled out Iran for criticism, a day after giving a progress report on security in Iraq.
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 13-September-2007
3:16:37 AM |
| Gen David Petraeus, top US commander in Iraq, and US envoy to Baghdad Ryan Crocker both cited evidence of Iranian involvement in attacks on US troops.
Responding to their report, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it made clear Iraq's security had improved, but Iran was a "troublesome neighbour".
US President George W Bush is due to address the nation on Thursday evening.
His speech will follow criticism from senior Democrats, who have said proposed reductions in US troop numbers in Iraq are "insufficient" and do not represent a change in course.
Mr Bush is expected to announce that he plans to reduce US troops in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, if certain conditions are met, White House officials say.
The move would bring the number of US troops in Iraq to "pre-surge" levels, with about 130,000 still deployed in Iraq.
'Malign influence'
Gen Petraeus endorsed a gradual reduction in troop numbers in his testimony to Congress on Monday and Tuesday, saying the surge was working, but warned against premature withdrawal.
Speaking to reporters, Gen Petraeus said there was "very clear" evidence of Iranian involvement in attacks on US forces in Iraq.
Mr Crocker echoed the message in an interview with the BBC's John Simpson, saying the role of Iran in undermining security in Iraq was "pretty well established".
"We have seen a serious Iranian effort to exercise malign influence through extremist militias," he said.
"And we know it because we've captured leaders of some of these secret organisations... and they've been very clear about their Iranian connections."
Asked how the US should handle Tehran, Mr Crocker said the administration viewed Iran as an international issue that should be dealt with by diplomatic means, such as the UN Security Council.
Iran has denied claims it has been involved in arming and training militias opposed to US forces in Iraq.
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