Iranian President Offers Conditional Help To U.S. In Iraq

President Ahmadinejad (center) reviewing paramilitary volunteers in Tehran today (Fars) November 26, 2006 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says Iran will be ready to help the United States in Iraq on the condition that U.S. and British forces first pull out of the country.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a speech today to paramilitary voluntary forces in Tehran.

The president was referring to interest voiced by the United States and Britain in talking to Iran and Syria about the situation in Iraq and peace in the Middle East. He said that instead of freedom and democracy, the United States and Britain have brought nothing but bloodshed and chaos to Iraq.

(dpa, AP)