Bush speech causes shockwaves

Kharrazi reportedly told Bush to prove his 'axis of evil' accusations

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran was the first country to respond to U.S. President George W. Bush's speech in which he said North Korea, Iraq and Iran were part of an "axis of evil."

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran considers these remarks as interference in its internal affairs."

Kharrazi went on to call the Bush comments "arrogant," according to the official state news agency IRNA.

"Bush is intending to divert public opinion from the Middle East issues by raising up a new subject and thereby pave the ground for the U.S. to continue support for Israel in suppressing the Palestinian nation," he said.

In Baghdad, a senior Iraqi parliamentarian said the U.S. leader was laying the groundwork for an American assault on Iraq.

STATE OF THE UNION  VIDEO   •  Speech highlights   •  President Bush's address: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5   •  Democratic response   •  A new vision of President Bush  MORE STORIES   •  Manila: Bush stance 'arrogant'   •  Iran rejects 'axis of evil' barb   •  Transcript of Bush's address   •  Democratic response to address   •  What CNN pundits heard   •  'Continuity plans' keep some out of Capitol   •  Time.com: State of the Union  EXTRA INFORMATION   •  Map: Bush's three state tour   •  Fact sheet   •  Key Themes   •  Gallery   •  History of the State of the Union   •  Historic wartime State of the Union addresses

"Little Bush's accusation against Iraq is baseless," Salim al-Qubaisi, head of the Iraqi parliament's foreign and Arab relations committee, told Reuters.

"The American administration led by Bush has been threatening Iraq from time to time to prepare world public opinion for a new aggression against Iraq.

"But such threats do not scare us, as the Iraqi people are well prepared to repel any aggression or foolishness by the American-Zionist administration," he added.

North Korea's official media scoffed at Bush for identifying the country as a threat.

A newspaper commentary carried by the country's official news agency said: "The U.S. loudmouthed 'threat' from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is sophism intended to justify its military presence in South Korea and persistently pursue the policy of aggression against the DPRK."

The speech also raised concerns in the Philippines.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez was quoted by The Associated Press as saying: "It's clear in my mind that one president of a friendly country does not threaten another friendly country."

Britain, however, praised Bush's address, saying he had made a "powerful case for the coalition's actions against global terrorism."

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman told reporters Blair considered it "entirely right" that Bush should register that there is "concern in relation to other countries."

"We have always said the fight against terrorism does not stop at Afghanistan and that there would always be another phase to this.

"Clearly that can encompass a comprehensive range of activities," he added. "It doesn't just involve military action."