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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Ahmadinejad to Visit Iraq

First-ever trip by an Iranian prez upsets Sunnis, poses security risk to hosts

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(Newser) – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will fly to Baghdad Sunday to meet with Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, the first state visit ever by an Iranian president, the BBC reports. Sunni Iraqi leaders expressed outrage over the visit, which also comes a day after the US claimed further evidence of Iranian meddling in the country—a sniper "trained in Iran," US military said. 

Ahmadinejad laughed off the find, saying, "Is it not funny that those with 160,000 forces in Iraq accuse us of interference?" He also refuses to travel through the US-occupied Green Zone, saying he will not accept American protection. This may pose a security risk to his hosts, who must transport him from the airport to Baghdad along 5 miles of oft-ambushed highway.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during a meeting with Riyadh Gharib, Iraqi Minister of Municipalities and Public Works, unseen, at Talabani's office in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Wathiq Khuzaie, Pool)
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during a meeting with Riyadh Gharib, Iraqi Minister of Municipalities and Public Works, unseen, at Talabani's office in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Wathiq...   (Associated Press)
A partial view of the Iraqi capital Baghdad as seen from a United States Army helicopter, on route from Baghdad International Airport to the heavily-fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2007. Iraq will take over security from British troops in Basra province within two months, Prime Minister Nouri...
A partial view of the Iraqi capital Baghdad as seen from a United States Army helicopter, on route from Baghdad International Airport to the heavily-fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2007....   (Associated Press)
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle is seen engulfed in flames at the side of the road leading to Baghdad Airport, Iraq, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. There was no immediate report about the incident from the military. (AP Photo/Asaad Mohsin)
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle is seen engulfed in flames at the side of the road leading to Baghdad Airport, Iraq, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. There was no immediate report about the incident from the military....   (Associated Press)
An Iraqi army soldier walks past a pool of blood at the scene of a suicide car bomb attack just outside the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. The bombing took place in western Baghdad, less than 150 yards (meters) from a series of buildings...
An Iraqi army soldier walks past a pool of blood at the scene of a suicide car bomb attack just outside the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. The bombing took place in...   (Associated Press)
Welcomed by an unidentified Saudi official, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, steps down his plane upon his arrival at the Madinah airport in Saudi Arabia, to attend Muslims Hajj pilgrimage Monday Dec. 17, 2007 in this photo provided by the Iranian Presidenty office. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has invited Ahmadinejad...
Welcomed by an unidentified Saudi official, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, steps down his plane upon his arrival at the Madinah airport in Saudi Arabia, to attend Muslims Hajj pilgrimage...   (Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad awaits Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov prior to their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad awaits Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov prior to their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)   (Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during the national anthem before a ceremony of the 44th General Assembly of the Asian-Pacific Broadcasting Union in Tehran, Iran Saturday Nov. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during the national anthem before a ceremony of the 44th General Assembly of the Asian-Pacific Broadcasting Union in Tehran, Iran Saturday Nov. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Hasan...   (Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, right, attend a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday shrugged off new U.S. sanctions targeting Iran, saying Tehran would not succumb to pressures by Washington, official...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, right, attend a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007. President Mahmoud...   (Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, waves to media after he attended in an official departure ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, waves to media after he attended in an official departure ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Hasan...   (Associated Press)
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