memyselfI
10-28-2005, 10:30 AM
and no, that does not mean the US needs to act on God's behalf. :rolleyes:
:cuss:
Ahmadinejad Joins in Anti-Israel Protests
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/iran
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's hard-line president marched in the streets of Tehran on Friday alongside tens of thousands of people supporting his call for the destruction of Israel — remarks that have been condemned around the world.
The rally was one of several state-organized anti-Israel demonstrations across the country that drew more than a million Iranians.
World leaders have condemned Wednesday's remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeated the words of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic revolution, by saying: "Israel must be wiped off the map."
As he marched alongside demonstrators in downtown Tehran, Ahmadinejad renewed his criticism of the West, saying: "They become upset when they hear any voice of truth-seeking."
"They think they are the absolute rulers of the world," he added.
Many marching with him held placards reading, "Death to Israel, death to America,"
On Friday, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow tried to soften the impact of Ahmadinejad's comment.
"Mr. Ahmadinejad did not have any intention to speak in sharp terms and engage in a conflict," the embassy said in a statement after the international criticism.
It added that Ahmadinejad "underlined the key position of Iran, based on the necessity to hold free elections on the occupied territories."
The embassy spoke out after Russia, a key Iranian ally, joined criticism of Ahmadinejad's statement and summoned the Iranian ambassador to ask for an explanation.
Iran's influential former president, Hashemi Rafsanjani, also tried to soothe tensions, suggesting in his Friday prayer sermon that Israelis and Palestinians decide the future of their conflict in a referendum.
The state-organized demonstrations are part of the annual al-Quds Day — or Jerusalem Day — protests, which were first held in 1979 after Shiite Muslim clerics took power in Iran. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have attended previous rallies.
At least 200,000 people rallied in Tehran, some chanting "Israel is approaching its death" and wearing white shrouds symbolizing their readiness to die for their cause. Others carried banners reading, "Israel must be destroyed."
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the president's comments represented Iran's long-held policy of not recognizing Israel.
"Unfortunately the Western countries have remained silent on the increasing inhumane activities of Israel (against the Palestinians)," Mottaki said a Tehran march.
Iran's seven state-run TV stations devoted coverage Friday to programs condemning the Jewish state and praising the Palestinian resistance since the 1948 creation of Israel.
The demonstrations attracted at least 100,000 people in all of Iran's major cities, while major rallies were held in other Middle Eastern countries.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese joined a demonstration in southern Beirut organized by the powerful Shiite Muslim guerrilla group, Hezbollah.
At least 30,000 people marched in Bahrain, burning Israeli and American flags and demanding their government rescind a recent decision to end its economic embargo of the Jewish state.
Countries from Britain to Russia denounced Ahmadinejad's comments. The United States said the Iranian leader's hostility underscored Washington's concern over Iran's nuclear program. Israel said Iran should be suspended from the United Nations.
U.N. chief Kofi Annan expressed "dismay" in a rare rebuke of a U.N. member state.
Even Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat criticized the comments.
"We have recognized the state of Israel and we are pursuing a peace process with Israel, and ... we do not accept the statements of the president of Iran," Erekat said. "This is unacceptable."
Hungary's Deputy State Secretary Laszlo Varkonyi summoned Iran's ambassador Friday, telling him that "no leader of a country which considers itself a responsible member of the international community can make such a statement." Japan's Foreign Ministry called the remarks "unacceptable in whatever context."
After Khomeini toppled the pro-Western Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979, he declared the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as an international day of struggle against Israel and for the liberation of Jerusalem.
:cuss:
Ahmadinejad Joins in Anti-Israel Protests
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/iran
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's hard-line president marched in the streets of Tehran on Friday alongside tens of thousands of people supporting his call for the destruction of Israel — remarks that have been condemned around the world.
The rally was one of several state-organized anti-Israel demonstrations across the country that drew more than a million Iranians.
World leaders have condemned Wednesday's remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeated the words of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic revolution, by saying: "Israel must be wiped off the map."
As he marched alongside demonstrators in downtown Tehran, Ahmadinejad renewed his criticism of the West, saying: "They become upset when they hear any voice of truth-seeking."
"They think they are the absolute rulers of the world," he added.
Many marching with him held placards reading, "Death to Israel, death to America,"
On Friday, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow tried to soften the impact of Ahmadinejad's comment.
"Mr. Ahmadinejad did not have any intention to speak in sharp terms and engage in a conflict," the embassy said in a statement after the international criticism.
It added that Ahmadinejad "underlined the key position of Iran, based on the necessity to hold free elections on the occupied territories."
The embassy spoke out after Russia, a key Iranian ally, joined criticism of Ahmadinejad's statement and summoned the Iranian ambassador to ask for an explanation.
Iran's influential former president, Hashemi Rafsanjani, also tried to soothe tensions, suggesting in his Friday prayer sermon that Israelis and Palestinians decide the future of their conflict in a referendum.
The state-organized demonstrations are part of the annual al-Quds Day — or Jerusalem Day — protests, which were first held in 1979 after Shiite Muslim clerics took power in Iran. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have attended previous rallies.
At least 200,000 people rallied in Tehran, some chanting "Israel is approaching its death" and wearing white shrouds symbolizing their readiness to die for their cause. Others carried banners reading, "Israel must be destroyed."
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the president's comments represented Iran's long-held policy of not recognizing Israel.
"Unfortunately the Western countries have remained silent on the increasing inhumane activities of Israel (against the Palestinians)," Mottaki said a Tehran march.
Iran's seven state-run TV stations devoted coverage Friday to programs condemning the Jewish state and praising the Palestinian resistance since the 1948 creation of Israel.
The demonstrations attracted at least 100,000 people in all of Iran's major cities, while major rallies were held in other Middle Eastern countries.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese joined a demonstration in southern Beirut organized by the powerful Shiite Muslim guerrilla group, Hezbollah.
At least 30,000 people marched in Bahrain, burning Israeli and American flags and demanding their government rescind a recent decision to end its economic embargo of the Jewish state.
Countries from Britain to Russia denounced Ahmadinejad's comments. The United States said the Iranian leader's hostility underscored Washington's concern over Iran's nuclear program. Israel said Iran should be suspended from the United Nations.
U.N. chief Kofi Annan expressed "dismay" in a rare rebuke of a U.N. member state.
Even Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat criticized the comments.
"We have recognized the state of Israel and we are pursuing a peace process with Israel, and ... we do not accept the statements of the president of Iran," Erekat said. "This is unacceptable."
Hungary's Deputy State Secretary Laszlo Varkonyi summoned Iran's ambassador Friday, telling him that "no leader of a country which considers itself a responsible member of the international community can make such a statement." Japan's Foreign Ministry called the remarks "unacceptable in whatever context."
After Khomeini toppled the pro-Western Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979, he declared the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as an international day of struggle against Israel and for the liberation of Jerusalem.