Algiers - Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian parliament, and chairmain of the Islamic Shura Council, warned the West on Sunday that his country was "not Iraq or Afghanistan."

Larijani, speaking in Algiers at the start of a four-day visit, called on Western powers to respct the "democratic life" of Iran.

"Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan," he said.

Larijani said that both Iran and Algeria's democracies were closely linked to Islamic culture. (dpa)