AP: Iran leader courts Latin America allies

[AnOhioan]

MANAGUA, Nicaragua -

Iran's hardline president, touring Latin America in search of an alliance of "revolutionary countries," said the U.S. is trying to hide its failures in Iraq by accusing his nation of funding insurgents there

Snip

The Iranian president was in Managua as part of a whirlwind tour of Latin America's newly inaugurated leftist leaders. He met with close ally and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez on Saturday, then was scheduled to attend the Monday inauguration of Ecuador's new president, Rafael Correa, and meet Bolivian leader Evo Morales. All are outspoken critics of President Bush.

Snip

Ortega, who fought off a U.S.-backed insurgency during his first government in the 1980s, took a less confrontational position with Ahmadinejad, instead talking about how the Iranian leader will help the developing world.

"We are conspiring against hunger, poverty and misery," Ortega said.


More at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/nicaragua_iran