Iran's president praises Iraqi government deal

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday praised Iraqi moves to form a new government that would keep in power politicians with close ties to Tehran, state media reported.

The official IRNA news agency said Ahmadinejad spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani by telephone to congratulate them on the agreement Iraqi lawmakers struck this week that intends to bring all of Iraq's warring political blocs into a new government led al-Maliki. (AP)