Iran leader: US playing 'double game’ in Afghanistan

KABUL, March 10, 2010 (AP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says it’s the United States that is playing a “double game” in Afghanistan, fighting terrorists that it helped to create.

At a press conference in the Afghan capital, Mr. Ahmadinejad was asked to respond to U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who earlier in the week accused Tehran of “playing a double game” by trying to have a good relationship with the Afghan government while undermining U.S. and NATO efforts by providing some support to the Taliban.

Tehran says it supports the Afghan government and denies allegations that it helps the Taliban.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said the U.S. “themselves created terrorists and now they say they are fighting terrorists.” The Iranian leader spoke at a news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.