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Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (Reuters) Last update - 21:09 02/03/2008 Ahmadinejad in Iraq: First-ever visit opens new chapter in ties By The Associated Press Tags: Iran, Iraq, U.S.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed a new chapter in ties with Iraq on Sunday, saying he was "truly happy" to make a landmark trip to Baghdad now that Iran's arch-foe Saddam Hussein had been deposed. He is the first Iranian president to visit Iraq since Saddam aunched a ruinous eight-year war on Iran in 1980 in which a million people died. Advertisement Ahmadinejad's trip is as much about symbolism as about cementing ties between the neighbours, both run by Shi'ite majorities. It is seen as a show of support for the Iraqi government and an act of defiance against Iran's longtime enemy, the United States, which has over 150,000 troops Iraq. "This visit will open a new chapter in the two countries' bilateral relations and it will help the atmosphere of cooperation in the region," Ahmadinejad told a joint news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. "A visit to Iraq without the dictator is a truly happy one," he said, referring to Saddam, Iran's arch-foe who was deposed in a U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and executed by the Iraqi government in December 2006. Ahmadinejad arrived Sunday in Baghdad for the first-ever trip, walking down a red carpet past Iraqi troops in dress uniform to meet the president of a country that was once Iran's bitter enemy. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani greeted Ahmadinejad at his car and the two kissed four times in the traditional fashion. A military honor guard saluted the two and a band played the two countries' national anthems as they walked slowly down the red carpet at Talabani's residency. The visit gives Ahmadinejad a chance to highlight the relationship his nation has with post-Saddam Hussein Iraq - both countries are led by Shiite Muslims - while also serving as an act of defiance toward the United States, which accuses Iran of training and giving weapons to Shiite extremists. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told The Associated Press that Ahmadinejad plans to leave Monday morning. Ahmadinejad is scheduled to meet not only with Talabani but also Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, both of whom have made official visits to Iran since taking office. Talabani's headquarters are located right across the Tigris River from the mammoth new U.S. Embassy in the fortified Green Zone, an area that has been repeatedly hit by mortar attacks, with the U.S. blaming Shiite militants. The U.S. has said it will have no involvement in Ahmadinejad's visit. Ahmadinejad arrived in Iraq a day after Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came to Baghdad on an unannounced visit with commanders and Iraqi officials. Ahmadinejad sought to reassure Iraqis ahead of the trip that Iran is not fueling violence in Iraq and wanted to promote peace. "This visit will be benefiting for all sides. Anybody who seeks peace and stability in the region will benefit from this trip," Ahmadinejad said before departing from Tehran Sunday, according to the Iranian state-run news agency, IRNA. With the trip, Ahmadinejad also may be trying to bolster his support back home ahead of parliamentary elections later this month. They are seen as referendum on the Iranian president, who has come under criticism from all sides in his country for spending too much time on anti-Western rhetoric and not enough on economic problems plaguing the country. Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the visit sends a clear message to Iraqis that the Iranian influence in the country is significant and enduring. "But at the same time, he doesn't want to threaten the Iraqis. He doesn't want to threaten Gulf states who fear that Iraq will be an Iranian satelite. He has a thin line to walk," he said. The U.S. has tried to downplay Ahmadinejad's visit, saying it welcomed Iran's stated policy of promoting stability but that its actions have doing just the opposite. U.S. President George W. Bush denied that Ahmadinejad's visit undermined U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran but had some advice for what al-Maliki should say to the Iranian leader. "He's a neighbor. And the message needs to be, quit sending in sophisticated equipment that's killing our citizens," Bush told reporters at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Related articles: UN Security Council vote on fresh Iran sanctions delayed until Monday German Jewish leader urges Merkel to back Israel's stance on Iran Hezbollah says not intimidated by U.S. warship deployment Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the line of fire Rights Group: Over 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants. Uncle Sam blames you U.S. blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel, Gaza.   1.   Go Iran,go! A sovereign nation has the right to visit who ever it 11:12  |  lakshmi 02/03/08   2.   Paradox effects of power politics 11:19  |  Fritz T. 02/03/08   3.   UNDISPUTABLE WINNER OF IRAQ WAR 11:42  |  indrajaya 02/03/08   4.   "Walking the thin Line"....Fiddler Style..! 12:28  |  Stephen. 02/03/08   5.   A RED CARPET FOR AHMAD (2nd TRY) 12:55  |  indrajaya 02/03/08   6.   GAZA, NOW 12:59  |  indrajaya 02/03/08   7.   The inevitable results 13:06  |  Mark Lincoln 02/03/08   8.   Iraq mess 14:17  |  Brod 02/03/08   9.   Irony!? 14:49  |  JR 02/03/08   10.   enjoy the trip, hyenajad. the mullah regime will soon burn. 17:24  |  frenz 02/03/08   11.   Ahmadinejad is he winner 17:30  |  adeel 02/03/08   12.   IRAN, Thou Shalt Not Covet Your Neighbor`s Oil Goods! 17:49  |  Lavi 02/03/08   13.   #12 - Lavi 19:05  |  MichaelF 02/03/08   14.   This Story is NOT Being Reported in the US Press 19:09  |  MichaelF 02/03/08   15.   Front Page US news 19:47  |  LB 02/03/08   16.   # 14, MICHAELIF 19:47  |  indrajaya 02/03/08   17.   Ha! I love the photo Haaretz is using 20:57  |  Harold 02/03/08   18.   Iran & Iraq 21:13  |  Douglas Kazdoy 02/03/08   19.   Michael in Silver Spring 21:31  |  AH 02/03/08   20.   THEY SOON TURN ON US!! 21:37  |  Ian 02/03/08

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