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Ahmadinejad launches broadside against US at United Nations
AP
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
By James Hossack
AFP
UNITED NATIONS
Petroleumworld.com 09 26 07
President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said Tuesday Iran considered the controversy regarding its nuclear program over, while launching a broad attack on the United States at the UN General Assembly.
In a wide-ranging speech, Ahmadinejad accused Washington of arrogance and human rights abuses, speaking at the same spot where US President George W. Bush a few hours earlier had spoken of the primacy of human rights and freedom.
Without specifically citing them by name, Ahmadinejad said Washington and its allies, who accuse Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, had been bullying Iran and pressuring the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"Today, because of the resistance of the Iranian nation, the issue is back to the Agency, and I officially announce that in our opinion, the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed and has turned into an ordinary Agency matter," he said.
Iran has come under two waves of international sanctions for its nuclear program, which Ahmadinejad insists is only for energy production. He has repeatedly insisted the Islamic republic has no need of nuclear weapons.
Nevertheless, the international community has taken scant consolation from his comments and is expected to push for a third round of UN sanctions within the coming days.
In his 40-minute speech, the Iranian leader went on to accuse Washington of human rights abuses in its "war on terror," with allusions to CIA programs of rendition and detention in camps such as Guantanamo Bay.
"Unfortunately human rights are being extensively violated by certain powers, especially by those who pretend to be their exclusive advocates," Ahmadinejad said, again without mentioning the United States by name.
"Setting up secret prisons, abducting persons, trials and secret punishments without any regard to due process, extensive tapping of telephone conversations intercepting private mail... have become commonplace and prevalent," he added.
The senior members of the US delegation left the General Assembly chamber for the speech, leaving only a junior staffer to take notes.
The United States and Iran broke off diplomatic relations at the time of the 1979 Islamic revolution and have been at loggerheads recently over a raft of issues, with Washington considering Iran a state sponsor of terror.
The United States has further accused Iran of arming insurgents who have killed thousands of US troops in Iraq and of equipping Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah, which it considers a terrorist organization.
Ahmadinejad lambasted Washington for its 2003 invasion of Iraq, which he said was "occupied under the pretext of overthrowing the dictator and the existence of weapons of mass destruction."
"Unfortunately, we are witnessing the bitter truth that some powers do not value some nations or human beings and the only things that matter to them are themselves, their political parties and their groups."
"In their view, human rights are tantamount to profits for their companies and their friends. The rights and dignity of the American people are also being sacrificed for the selfish desires of those holding power," he added.
Ahmadinejad's visit to the United States has been the subject of deep controversy, notably over his outspoken comments downplaying the scale of the Holocaust and calling for Israel to wiped off the face of the map.
The Iranian leader blasted Washington and Israel, which he described as an "illegal Zionist regime" over the fate of the Palestinians, who he said were "deprived of water, electricity and medicine for the sin of asking for freedom."
"For more than 60 years, Palestine, as compensation for the loss they (the Jews) incurred during the war in Europe, has been under occupation of the illegal Zionist regime.
"The Palestinian people have been displaced or are under heavy military pressure, economic siege or are incarcerated under abhorrent conditions.
"The occupiers are protected and praised, while the innocent Palestinians are subjected to political, military and propaganda onslaughts," he said.
Ahmadinejad wraps up his third visit to the United States on Wednesday.
AFP 25 2250 GMT 09 07
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