KurdistanObserver.com   Iranian President Ahmadinejad : Iran Is Ready to Fill Any Vacuum in Iraq Associated Press Writer TEHRAN, Iran Aug 28, 2007 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boldly declared Tuesday that U.S. political influence in Iraq is "collapsing rapidly" and said his government is ready to help fill any power vacuum. The hard-line leader also defended Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a fellow Shiite Muslim who has come under harsh criticism from American politicians for his unsuccessful efforts to reconcile Iraq's divided Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. "The political power of the occupiers is collapsing rapidly," Ahmadinejad... ...said at a news conference, referring to U.S. troops in Iraq. "Soon, we will see a huge power vacuum in the region. Of course, we are prepared to fill the gap, with the help of neighbors and regional friends like Saudi Arabia, and with the help of the Iraqi nation." Ahmadinejad did not elaborate on what he had in mind, but his remarks reflected what may be the Iranian regime's eagerness to have an increasing influence on its neighbor's political scene. The mention of a Saudi role may have been aimed at allaying regional fears that Ahmadinejad wants to dominate in Iraq. Even though Saudi Arabia and Iran have not cooperated in the past, it "doesn't mean it can't happen," Ahmadinejad said. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the United States wanted to see Iran play a more positive role in Iraq, but added that Ahmadinejad's remarks showed it isn't doing so. "Unfortunately, what I think we're seeing here with President Ahmadinejad's comments is just more of the same Iranian rhetoric that claims to hold support and friendship for the people of Iraq, while actions, unfortunately, take them in the opposite direction," Casey said. In defending al-Maliki, Ahmadinejad accusedthe United States of interfering in Iraq's internal affairs and said any U.S. effort to topple al-Maliki's government will fail. Key Democratic politicians, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, have called for al-Maliki to be replaced because his Shiite-dominated government has been unable to forge national unity. President Bush and the U.S. ambassador in Iraq also have given blunt assessments of the political stagnation in Baghdad, and Bush has said it is up to the Iraqi people to decide if their government deserved to be replaced. "They rudely say (the Iraqi) prime minister and the constitution must change," Ahmadinejad said of U.S. critics. "Who are you? Who has given you the right" to ask for such a change, he added. Al-Maliki has shrugged off the gloomy assessments, saying he would "pay no attention" to American critics and if necessary "find friends elsewhere." Ousting al-Maliki, a longtime Shiite political activist, would require a majority vote in the 275-member Iraqi parliament. As long as the Kurdish parties and the main Shiite bloc back al-Maliki, his opponents lack the votes for that. During al-Maliki's visit to Tehran earlier this month, Iranian leaders said that only a U.S. pullout would bring peace to Iraq. "Occupation is the root of all problems in Iraq," Ahmadinejad said Tuesday. "It has become clear that occupiers are not able to resolve regional issues." Even as Ahmadinejad spoke, fighting between rival Shiite factions in southern Iraq raised new fears a pullout by British troops and a drop in U.S. influence in the south could lead to chaos the region that Iran could exploit. Ahmadinejad dismissed the possibility of any U.S. military action against Iran, saying Washington has no plan and is not in a position to take such action. Washington has accused Tehran of being behind attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq _ a claim al-Maliki's government has only partially backed, saying Iran could have a role in the attacks. Iran has denied the charges. On another issue of contention, the U.S. and its allies fear Tehran is using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to produce atomic weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its program is solely geared toward generating electricity. Ahmadinejad again rejected any possibility of Iran suspending its controversial uranium enrichment program, saying it was "out of the question." "Today, Iran is a nuclear Iran," he said, adding that his government was committed to a "peaceful path" with its atomic program.       Copyright © 2002, Kurdistan Observer