DUBAI (AFP) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told Al-Arabiya satellite channel Saturday that most Shiites across the Arab world are loyal to Iran first rather than the countries where they live.

"There are Shiites in all these countries (of the region), significant percentages, and Shiites are mostly always loyal to Iran and not the countries where they live."

He singled out Iraq for special attention. "Naturally Iran has an influence over Shiites who make up 65 percent of Iraq's population," Mubarak said when asked about Iran's role in neighboring Iraq.