By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the United States’ double standard in international campaign against terrorism is the reason for its inaction towards Kurdish rebels who launch attacks against Turkey from northern Iraq.
The president made the comment in a phone conversation with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
Turkey said it would not hesitate to send troops across the Iraqi border if needed to pursue the rebels of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Saturday, “Whenever an operation is needed to be carried out, we will do that.
“We do not need to ask anything from anyone for that.”
President Ahmadinejad also made phone calls to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Saturday night to offer his country’s help in mediating the crisis and he met Sunday with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.
Ahmadinejad, in his call with Gul, lashed out at the US occupation of Iraq, suggesting it was the root cause of Turkey’s problems with the rebels. “Occupiers have prepared ground for disunity and are supporting terrorists through their double standard policies.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, after meeting with Babacan Sunday, said he suspected the United States had “behind the scene agreements” that made them reluctant to contain the PKK rebels.
“Nevertheless, I am hoping the United States will correct their ways and help with campaign against terrorism in the region,” Mottaki said.
Mottaki said that Ahmadinejad, in his call to the Iraqi leaders, “expressed his concern about terrorist acts taking place in the region and stressed the need to find a solution.”