Special report:Tension escalates in Iraq

Related: Iran says to help U.S. on Iraq issue

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (L) shakes hands with visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (R) in Tehran, capital of Iran, Nov. 27, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Iraq vowed on Wednesday to strengthen security cooperation as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani wrapped up a three-day visit aimed at seeking help from his neighbor in stemming bloodshed in his violence-torn country.

    At a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Talabani described his visit as "100 percent successful" and promised that results of his trip "will appear soon."

    "We discussed security, economy, oil and industry and reached general agreement," he said.

    For his part, Ahmadinejad voiced his support for the Iraqi people and reiterated his call for the United States to withdraw forces from Iraq.

    "I advise you to leave Iraq ...(and) transfer the responsibilities to the Iraqi government according to a timetable as it wants," he said.

    He said that enemies of Iraq were determined to prevent the formation of a powerful Iraq and seek to sow seeds of discord and enmity in the war-torn country.

    "We all should strive to forge unity among the Iraqi nation,"he said.

    In a joint statement on Wednesday, the two countries called for upgrading current level of relations and cooperation in political,security, oil, industry, economic and cultural affairs, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.

    The Islamic Republic of Iran underlined the need to maintain Iraq's national unity, territorial integrity and independence, the statement said.

    The two sides also strongly condemned continued atrocities and sabotage activities of terrorist groups in Iraq and emphasized the necessity of serious confrontation with such criminal and terror activities.

    Talabani arrived in Tehran on Monday for his second trip to Iran as the Iraqi president. In November 2005, Talabani held a historic meeting with Ahmadinejad as the first Iraqi president to visit Iran in 40 years.

    Upon his arrival in Tehran on Monday evening, Talabani called for Iran's "comprehensive" help to stem escalating violence in war-torn Iraq.

    "We need Iran's comprehensive help to fight terrorism, restore security and stabilize Iraq," Talabani told reporters at Iran's Presidential Office.

    In response, Ahmadinejad pledged to support Talabani's request,saying "we will help our Iraqi brothers with all we can to implement and reinforce security in Iraq."

    Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his meeting with Talabani on Tuesday, also pledged that Iran would do its best to help Iraq establish stability and security.

    "Iran will spare no efforts to promote stability and security in Iraq, if Iraqi officials call for such help," Khamenei was quoted by the state television as saying.

    Talabani's visit came as Iraq was increasingly plagued by killings and kidnappings on a scale that some feared would slip into a civil war.

    Iran had reportedly invited Talabani and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to attend a three-way meeting last weekend, but Tehran denied later that such a meeting was on agenda.

    The Iraqi president had planed to visit Iran on Saturday, but his trip was delayed due to a huge attack on Shiites in Baghdad's suburban Sadr City, which killed over 200 people and caused a three-day curfew to stave off further violence.

    Observers say that as Iran has great influence on Iraqi Shiites,Talabani's Iran tour was to seek help to stem bloodshed that has been wracking the war-torn country.

    The United States has said that it welcomed any talks that could help stabilize Iraq's situation, but doubted effect of a meeting between Iran, Iraq and Syria.

    U.S. President George W. Bush has been under mounting domestic pressure for him to contact Iran and Syria in an effort to calm down the situation in Iraq.

    Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that he would assist the United States to stabilize the situation in Iraq if Washington changes its "bullying" policy toward Iran.

    But, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Julie Reside replied, "The Iranians have made comments similar to this in the past. There's nothing new there."

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Iraqi president calls for Iran's full assistance

    TEHRAN, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday called for Iran's "comprehensive" help to stem escalating violence in war-torn Iraq. <<<

Iraqi president arrives in Iran for help for calming violence

    TEHRAN, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived here late Monday for talks with Iranian officials in seeking Iran's help in calming the escalating violence in Iraq. <<< 

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