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Last update - 00:00 26/06/2009
Ahmadinejad: Obama like Bush, must apologize for Iran comments
By Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Iran Election 

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday accused U.S. President Barack Obama of behaving like his predecessor toward Iran, and said there was not much point in talking to Washington unless the U.S. president apologized.

Obama said Tuesday he was "appalled and outraged" by the post-election crackdown in Iran, and Washington withdrew invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend Independence Day celebrations on July 4 - stalling efforts to improve ties with Tehran.

"Mr Obama made a mistake to say those things... our question is why he fell into this trap and said things that previously [former president George W.] Bush used to say," the semi-official Fars News Agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
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"Do you want to speak with this tone? If that is your stance then what is left to talk about ... I hope you avoid interfering in Iran's affairs and express your regret in a way that the Iranian nation is informed of it," he said.

Iran's tough security crackdown after its disputed June 12 presidential election, which Ahmadinejad won by a landslide according to official results, has led Obama to ramp up his previously muted criticism of Tehran.

The turmoil in Iran has dimmed prospects for Obama's engagement with Tehran over its nuclear program, with Ahmadinejad's government blaming Britain and the United States for fomenting violence.

Obama toughened his criticism of Iran on Tuesday for its crackdown on protesters demonstrating against the official election results, declaring scenes of death in Tehran "heartbreaking."

"In 2009, no iron fist is strong enough to shut off the world from bearing witness to the peaceful pursuit of justice," Obama said in Washington.

But the U.S. president declined to spell out any potential consequences for Tehran of the crackdown, and said there was still "a path available" to Iran in which it could operate within the international community.

Ahmadinejad said, according to Fars: "What way of talking is this to the Iranian nation ... I tell them that all those people who voted and all the Iranian nation will stand against them."

He was speaking in the port town of Assaluyeh, where he was inaugurating a petrochemical plant.

The Iranian leader added: "A country which talks of change and cooperation, why did it fall into this trap. The Iranian nation sees and hears this talk and will make its decision... I hope you avoid interfering in Iran's affairs and express your regret in a way that the Iranian nation is informed of it."

Meanwhile, Soccer's world governing body FIFA has asked Iran's soccer federation to respond to media reports that players who wore green wrist bands in a show of solidarity with the protests have been punished.


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      1.   State Encouragement of Civil Liberties - disgraceful 13:04  |  Zis-d 25/06/09
      2.   Ahmad demands an apology 13:05  |  Lynn 25/06/09
      3.   In Iran. it`s about the USA or the Jews... 14:35  |  dyinglikeflies 25/06/09
      4.   eat this big O 14:50  |  adrian 25/06/09
      5.   Ahmadinejad blasts ! 14:55  |  DT 25/06/09
      6.   Obama has managed to become the punching bag of all sides... 14:55  |  S 25/06/09
      7.   eat this big O 17:32  |  adrian 25/06/09
      8.   If you talk like Bush, you should apologize 17:33  |  Harold 25/06/09
      9.   Ahmadinejad 18:07  |  Yosemite 25/06/09
      10.   Obama manages to get sidetracked 18:09  |  Natallie Durson 25/06/09
      11.   Ya just gotta laugh ....at Harold 18:10  |  Arnold 25/06/09
      12.   Iran`s internal problems 18:37  |  Anonymous 25/06/09
      13.   #.10. Natallie Durson. Unfair, foulplay... 19:08  |  Stephen. 25/06/09
      14.   All Obama cares is to get reelected 19:09  |  Salvador 25/06/09
      15.   14. Anynomous - right you are 20:07  |  Albert 25/06/09
      16.   Ahmadinejad`s statement shows that you can`t win either way..... 20:44  |  American 25/06/09
      17.   Iran leaders acting like the Shah in 1978 21:57  |  david 25/06/09
      18.   atack Iran!!! 02:39  |  Michelle 26/06/09
      19.   This guy makes me want to throw up 02:41  |  ScotGuy 26/06/09
      20.   Obama apologize 03:15  |  and keep quiet ?? 26/06/09
      21.   Tehran`s Funny Farm.... let the show begin 03:17  |  allang 26/06/09
      22.   Like Hitler in last months of WW2... 04:18  |  Mark 26/06/09
      23.   #10 - Natallie Durson 04:23  |  MichaelF 26/06/09
      24.   #12 - Anonymous 04:30  |  MichaelF 26/06/09
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