Iran "shies away from any conflict" - Ahmadinejad

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today his country ''shies away from any conflict'' and that peace would return to Iraq only when US and other foreign forces leave.

Ahmadinejad was speaking in an interview in Tehran with US television network ABC.

''We shy away from any kind of conflict and any kind of bloodshed,'' he said. ''We are opposed to any kind of conflict and also the presence of foreign forces in Iraq and that's why we are opposed to the presence of Americans.'' ''We tell them leave the country, and any other foreigners should leave the country and there should be no foreigner in Iraq and then you see that you have peace.

Ahmadinejad dismissed US accusations that Iran was fueling violence in Iraq by suppling militants with weapons. He said the United States was trying to hide its failures and defeat in Iraq by pointing the finger at others.

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