Iran alleges assassination plot

The Iranian president and his Iraqi counterpart have held reciprocal visits

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said there was a plot to kill him during a trip he took to Iraq in March, Iranian state radio reports.

Mr Ahmadinejad implied that the United States and its allies were behind the alleged plot to kidnap and kill him.

The president made the comment during a meeting with clerics in the Iranian city of Qom.

He said his country's "enemies" had their plan foiled by last minute changes that were made to his schedule.

During the two-day visit, President Ahmadinejad cancelled a scheduled trip to the cities of Najaf and Karbala, citing security reasons.

An American spokesman in Iraq said the United States was unaware of any threats to the president's life.