Putin hits out at ‘dictatorial’ US

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin yesterday accused the US of pursuing a dictatorial foreign policy and said mounting violence could derail progress toward bringing peace and democracy to Iraq.

Mr Putin also criticised the West for setting double-standards on terrorism, pursuing Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan and Iraq while giving refuge to “terrorists” demanding Chechen independence.

The Kremlin leader’s tough remarks came on a visit to India, where he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issued a joint call for greater co-operation in stabilising and rebuilding Iraq.