Basra Governor Proclaims Amity with Iran

TEHRAN (FNA) – Governor of the southern Iraqi province of Basra has distanced himself from anti-Iran allegations attributed to him by malicious elements.

Speaking to Alalam Wednesday, Mohammad al-Wa’ili said he was misquoted on comments on the Iranian Consulate on Basra.

Al-Wa’ili was quoted as saying the Iranian consulate is devising a plot to kill his brother, Ismail al-Wa’ili, without elaborating where he received the tip-off.

The governor also hailed an upcoming visit by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Iraq as a milestone, which “will leave tremendous impacts on boosting bilateral ties.”

Ahmadinejad is the first Iranian president to visit the war-torn country and is scheduled to hold talks with high-ranking Iraqi officials to step up relations.