“Since five years ago Iraq has turned into the scene of the Iranian regime’s meddling and aggression. Everyday hundreds of Iraqis are victims of the Iranian exported terrorism. In southern Iraq we are witnessing the murder of our children and ransack of our oil and other national wealth by the criminal elements of the Iranian regime,” the statement said.
“The visit [by Ahmadinejad] is against our national interest and is against the will of Iraqi people. It is unacceptable for any Iraqi citizen. The Iraqi government should stop it,” the statement added.
Last November more than 300,000 Iraqis including hundreds of Shiite tribal leaders from Sothern provinces signed a petition condemning Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and supported the presence of the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in that country.
The petition was viewed as a turning point in Iraq. For the first time there was a public and organized display of opposition toward Iranian regime’s meddling by tribal leaders in the predominantly Shiite south.
Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq has prompted widespread protests by Iraqi political personalities and parties critical of Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq. Some have called for protests against the visit.
On Friday, for the second consecutive day hundreds of demonstrators marched the streets of Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, chanting anti-Ahmadinejad slogans. Similar protests were held in Baghdad.
Many held banners including one that read: "We condemn visit of terrorist and butcher Ahmadinejad to Iraq," Associated Press reported on Saturday.