US trying to blame Tehran for woes - Iran cleric

TEHRAN, Oct 27 (Reuters) An influential Iranian cleric said today US officials were trying to lay the blame for America's troubles in the West Asia on Syria and Iran, when the root cause of Washington's problem was its presence in Iraq.

President George W. Bush on Wednesday urged Iran and Syria to support the governments of neighbouring Iraq and Lebanon and warned against creating instability in those democracies.

Bush is under pressure to change his Iraq policy ahead of November 7 elections in which his Republican Party could lose control of Congress partly due to the unpopular Iraq war.

''Do not put the blame for your problems on others. That an American official says Iran is interfering or Syria is interfering will not solve any of your problems,'' Ahmad Khatami said in a sermon to worshippers broadcast on state radio.

''What is a cure to your problem is unconditionally leaving Iraq,'' he said.

Khatami -- a member of the powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, which supervises Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- said the United States was making the region fear Iran unjustifiably.

''Our neighbouring countries should know that it is Iran which will help them, that Islamic Iran, as their powerful brother, will rush to help them at the time of crisis but America is seeking to loot their oil and facilities,'' he said.

REUTERS PDM VC1901