TEHRAN, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Tuesday sought help from Iran to stem sectarian violence tearing his country apart, buoyed by remarks by Iran's president.
Talabani was set to meet Tuesday with Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, the second day of a state visit.
After meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Monday, Talabani continued in his bid for help in stemming sectarian violence in Iraq between majority Shiites and minority Sunnis from the theocratic ruler of Iran, the BBC reported.
Monday night on Iranian state-run television, Talibani made his plea public.
"We are in dire need of Iran's help in establishing security and stability in Iraq," Talabani said.
For his part, Ahmadinejad was supportive of assistance, saying stability in Iraq was important for the entire region.
Tuesday, Talabani and his delegation laid a wreath at the tomb of the Father of the Islamic Revolution in southern Tehran, Ayatollah Khomeini, the state run IRNA news agency reported.
Meanwhile on Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in New York that Iraq was on the brink of civil war and drastic action was needed to prevent it.
