CAIRO, Aug 7 (AFP) - Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar advised neighbouring Iran not to interfere in Iraq's affairs, an Egyptian daily reported Saturday amid a growing war of words between the two countries.
"I would presume that our brothers in Iran are wise and thoughtful enough not to get bogged down in Iraq's problems and further complicate the situation," he told the government-run Al-Ahram daily.
"We want our relations with our neighbours to be based on mutual respect... We do not expect them to interfere in our affairs," Yawar said.
The premier nevertheless tried to douse the fire sparked when Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem al-Shaalan told the Washington Post last week he had seen "clear interference in Iraqi issues by Iran" and accused Tehran of working "to kill democracy" in his country.
Yawar said that Iraq maintained "friendly relations" with Iran and stressed it was "in the interest of Iraq and Iran that bilateral relations be balanced, healthy and positive".
Iran on Saturday called on US-led foreign troops assisting the government in Iraq to show restraint and respect the country's holy sites amid new fighting with rebel Shiite militia.