The Iranian President on Friday slammed Israel for a deadly raid this week on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and warned the country’s Opposition agai-nst straying from the path of the founder of the Islamic Revolution .
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke before tens of thousands gathered at the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in southern Tehran for a ceremony marking his death 21 years ago. The Khomeini-led Islamic revolution toppled the US-backed shah and brought hard-line Islamists to power in Iran in 1979.
“Those who deviate from the Imam’s path will be banished by the people,” Mr Ahmadinejad said.
The stark warning came just days ahead of the Opposition’s mass rally planned on the anniversary of last June’s disputed presidential election. The rally is to be the first Opposition gathering in months and authorities have warned they will confront any unauthorised demonstrations. The Iranian Opposition claims Mr Ahmadinejad won the election through massive vote fraud and had rallied for months against the election results.
It was met by a heavy government crackdown, which the Opposition says has killed 80 people during street protests so far.
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Obama cancels Oz, Indonesia visit again
Washington : US President Barack Obama has deferred his trip to Australia and Indonesia for a second time after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster has overwhelmed his domestic and international political agenda.
“President Obama spoke tonight with Prime Minister (Kevin) Rudd of Australia, and with President Yudhoyono of Indonesia. President Obama expressed his deep regret that he has to postpone his trip to Asia that was scheduled for later this month,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
However, the announcement by Mr Gibbs offered no explanation.
“The President looked forward to rescheduling so that he can visit both countries soon,” he said, adding that Mr Obama underscored his commitment to our close alliance with Australia and America’s deepening partnership with Indonesia. —PTI