Iran says no need for military buildup in Afghanistan

A senior Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday that the official announcement of Osama bin Laden's death by the U.S. president means Washington has no more excuse to have a military buildup in Afghanistan.

"Given the fact that Americans themselves admit bin Laden's death, it should thus be stated that the United States' continued military presence in Afghanistan has no legitimacy anymore," Kazem Jalali told reporters on the sidelines of an open session of the parliament.

The U.S. attacked Afghanistan under the pretext of arresting or killing bin Laden, but Americans in fact attempted to use bin Laden as a tool to promote their goals in the region, he was quoted as saying.

"In addition to using bin Laden as an instrument during his life, the United States is now trying to make a political use of his death and his dead body," Jalali said without further elaboration.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that the death of bin Laden dose not mean that the fight with terrorism is over and strikes on al-Qaida will not end with the death of its leader.

U.S. President Barack Obama announced Sunday night that a U.S. operation had killed bin Laden outside the Pakistani capital Islamabad and hailed the terrorist leader's death as the "most significant achievement" in U.S. efforts to defeat al-Qaida.

Xinhua News