Iran

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Iranian FM in Turkey on surprise visit

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Kharazi, who is on a regional tour covering also Syria and Lebanon, was to meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul according to AFP.
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"The talks are expected to focus on Iraq, bilateral ties as well as regional issues," a Turkish diplomat said.

In a brief statement on his arrival at Ankara airport, Kharazi said that Turkey and Iran should step up consultations on regional issues, Anatolia news agency reported.

Ahead of the January 30 polls in Iraq, both Turkey and Iran have called for the participation of all ethnic groups in the elections and in the future administration of the war-torn country.

The two countries are also concerned over any moves by the Kurds in northern Iraq towards greater autonomy which they fear might fan unrest among their own Kurdish minorities.

On the bilateral front, Tehran and Ankara have recently bolstered cooperation on security issues after trading accusation that each side was sheltering eacxh others' opponents.

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Rafsanjani lashes out at Iran's critics in Iraq

LONDON, Christmas Day (IranMania) - During the weekly Friday Prayers ceremony in Tehran, former Iranian President Hashemi Rafanjani lashed out at the "stupid accusations of Iranian interference made by certain mercenaries of the United States".

He was referring to Iraq's interim government who regularly accuse Iran of destablizing the country, "Such propaganda is strange coming from people who themselves were designated by the Americans".
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