AFP: A top US commander Friday accused Iran of meddling in Iraq’s elections, saying it invested heavily in political parties in the south and seeks to influence the formation of a new government.
WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (AFP) – A top US commander Friday accused Iran of meddling in Iraq’s elections, saying it invested heavily in political parties in the south and seeks to influence the formation of a new government.
“I don’t have hard, smoking gun-type evidence, but the intelligence we have tells us they invested heavily in political parties supportive of Iran in the south,” said General George Casey, who commands US forces in Iraq.
“And I believe they will continue to attempt to influence the formation of this government over the coming weeks, to get a government that they believe is supportive of their interests,” he said.
“That is worrisome and it is a challenge for us,” he added.
Casey spoke to reporters here via video-link from Baghdad the day after Iraqis turned out in large numbers across the country to elect a 275-member national parliament.
He said that Syria, in contrast, appears to have taken some measures to prevent the flow of foreign fighters and suicide bombers into Iraq.
US leaders have harshly criticized Damascus for months for failing to control its borders and stop the movement of fighters and money into Iraq.
