Iran loses ally in Iraq's Hakim, hard to replace
By Edmund Blair
TEHRAN, Sept. 1 — Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim may not have espoused an Iranian-style revolution in Iraq, but Iran lost a sympathetic ear that will be difficult to replace when the Iraqi Shi'ite leader was killed last week.
http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters09-01-062708.asp?reg=MIDEAST9/1/03
Iran FM: US has made mistake in drawing up Iraq strategy
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said in Kuwait City on Monday that the United States has made mistake in drawing up its strategy on Iraq, IRNA reported.
In a meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad as-Sabah, Kharrazi said that the Americans did not heed Iran`s advice which could have helped restore peace and stability in Iraq.
"Iran had urged for an immediate hand-over of administration in Iraq to the United Nations. Iraq should be ceded to Iraqis themselves to restore national sovereignty with participation of people from all walks of life and from different ethnic background," he said.
Kharrazi regretted that the former Iraqi regime set afire the region two times and destroyed financial resources, a reference to Iraqi-imposed war and Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
He expressed grief at martyrdom of Iraqi religious leader Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer Hakim and said that it was a great loss for the Iraqi people and the entire region.
He called for implementation of the accords already signed between the two countries and for activation of the special committee on joint investment.
As-Sabah called for exchange of views between Iranian and Kuwaiti officials and said that Kuwait is willing to develop relations with the Islamic Republic of iran.
He said that the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) is interested in developing cooperation with other countries. As-Sabah said that martyrdom of late Ayatollah Mohamamd Baqer Hakim was a great blow to peace and security of the region.
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