Iraq set up panel to probe claims of Iran meddling

Baghdad: Iraq on Sunday appeared to distance itself from US accusations of Iranian meddling in Iraqi affairs, saying it would not be pushed into conflict with its neighbor and wanted its own inquiry into the evidence.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki had ordered the formation of a special panel comprised of representatives of the various security ministries "to document any intervention in Iraqi affairs".

"The reason behind forming this committee is to find tangible information and not information based on speculation," Dabbagh told a news conference in Baghdad.

"We don't want to be pushed into any conflict with any neighboring countries, especially Iran. What happened before is enough. We paid a lot," Dabbagh said, referring to the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war in which an estimated 1 million people died.

"It happened because the others pushed Iraq to take an aggressive stance with Iran. We want to organise relations with all neighbouring countries to preserve the interests of Iraq."

Washington accuses Iran of funding, arming and training Shiite militias to attack US-led troops and Iraqi government forces, despite its public commitment to stabilising Iraq.

Tehran blames the violence on the presence of US forces.

Dabbagh's comments were curious for the fact they came after a week in which the Iraqi government had appeared to be toughening its stance against fellow majority Shiite Iran.