Beware of force on militias, Iran tells Iraq

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran warned Iraq on Sunday against using excessive force in its crackdown against Shiite militias, after a visit by a high-ranking Iraqi delegation to the Islamic republic.

"We support the efforts of the Iraqi government to disarm the armed militias but we advise them not to confront the population," an official source, who was not named, told the student ISNA news agency.

"The official position of the Islamic republic of Iran is to support the legal Iraqi government and we will do everything to assure the security of the country," added the source.

The comments came after a visit by an Iraqi parliamentary delegation led by the deputy speaker aiming at ending the clashes between Iraqi government forces and Shiite militias.

The militiamen are mostly loyal to firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who according to his Najaf-based office is currently in Iran.

The delegation attempted to meet Sadr during their visit, but according to his aides in Iraq the cleric did not wish to receive them. He is believed to be studying in the Iranian clerical centre of Qom.

Iran has never officially confirmed Sadr's presence on its soil and has until now remained tight-lipped about the delegation's talks, confirming only that they were in Iran in a bid to end the clashes.

Shiite militiamen, mainly from Sadr's Mahdi Army, have fought fierce street battles with US and Iraqi forces since late March in Baghdad's Sadr City, leaving hundreds dead.

Washington has accused Tehran of arming the militias and giving them training inside Iran but Iranian officials have always rejected the charges, saying the country is committed to security for all Iraqis.

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