Arabs urge Obama to change past flawed policies

Leaders across the Middle East congratulated U.S. President-elect Barack Obama Saturday and urged the Democratic winner to move away from past foreign policies and move towards peaceful change.

From the United Arab Emirates to Syria leaders called on Obama to pursue plans that encouraged dialogue instead of aggression to solve the numerous crises plaguing the region.

Irked Iran

In his first news conference since his election win Obama, who previously said he would negotiate with U.S. foes, called on Iran to stop its support of terrorists and said a nuclear armed Iran would be "unacceptable," irking the Islamic Republic.

The calls were slammed by Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani who said such rhetoric showed a pursuit of the same flawed policies of previous administrations.

"This signifies a pursuit of the same erroneous policy as in the past," Larijani said when asked about Obama's comment on Friday.

"If the United States wants to change its standing in the region it should send good signals," he said.

"Obama understands that change does not only mean a change of color and superficial differences, change must also have a strategic basis," the country's news agency quoted Larijani as saying.

Obama understands that change does not only mean a change of color and superficial differences, change must also have a strategic basis

Iranian MP

"Brain not brawn"

Meanwhile, The ruler of Dubai urged the incoming U.S. administration to use "brain" instead of "brawn" in solving world crises, in a clear dig at the outgoing administration of President George W. Bush.

"I say to the new (U.S.) administration that crises are not solved by wars, force and arms ... God gave us brains and brawn," Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum said, addressing a World Economic Forum event in the booming Gulf emirate.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad congratulated Obama and called on him to pursue dialogue in the Middle East, two weeks after U.S. planes raided Syria.

The state news agency said Assad sent a congratulatory telegram to Obama "expressing hope that dialogue would prevail to overcome the difficulties that have hindered real progress toward peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East".

I say to the new (U.S.) administration that crises are not solved by wars, force and arms ... God gave us brains and brawn

Ruler of Dubai

Iraq jihadists

Meanwhile, Iraq's jihadists said Obama will offer nothing positive but urged the president-elect to adopt a policy of neutrality.

"On behalf of my brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Chechnya, I offer you what is better for you and us: you return to your previous era of neutrality, you withdraw your forces, and you return to your homes," said an audiotape attributed to Omar al-Baghdadi, head of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq.

The message also said the "unjust" wars launched in Muslim countries were the "principal cause of the collapse of the economic giant."

Earlier this week, the Islamic Army in Iraq, an ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim insurgent group, said Obama would not do anything beneficial for Iraq.

On Friday afternoon Obama called foreign heads of government from Egypt, Italy, Pakistan, Poland, Spain and Saudi Arabia, after speaking Thursday with leaders of Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico and South Korea.

On behalf of my brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Chechnya, I offer you what is better for you and us: you return to your previous era of neutrality, you withdraw your forces, and you return to your homes

Iraq jihadist