Iran leader hopes Sharon is dead
Daily Telegraph: IRAN'S hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said overnight that he hoped Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was dead and wished the same for the rest of the Jewish state's leaders, the ISNA student news agency reported.
"Today you will all have heard, and I hope that this is final, that the criminal of Sabra and Chatila has rejoined his ancestors," Mr Ahmadinejad said referring to Sharon's alleged role in the massacre of Palestinians by Lebanese militiamen in Beirut refugee camps in 1982.
"God willing, the others will join him soon," he added.
Sharon, 77, was described as being in a critical but stable condition in a Jerusalem hospital after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage overnight.
Mr Ahmadinejad, an ultra-conservative who won a shock election victory in June, has caused international outrage with a series of anti-Israeli remarks.
Earlier even as Sharon was battling for his life, the president issued a new diatribe questioning both Israel's right to exist and the truth of the Holocaust.
"Why would you impose such a bold and corrupt regime on the nations of the region unless it (the Holocaust) is a big historical lie," Mr Ahmadinejad said, addressing Western nations.
Mr Ahmadinejad's comments have already resulted in two rebukes from the UN Security Council, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also put off a planned visit to Iran in October.
The president has broken with the more measured language of his moderate predecessor Mohammad Khatami to brand the Holocaust a "myth" and Israel a "tumour" that should be "wiped off the map".
"Today you will all have heard, and I hope that this is final, that the criminal of Sabra and Chatila has rejoined his ancestors," Mr Ahmadinejad said referring to Sharon's alleged role in the massacre of Palestinians by Lebanese militiamen in Beirut refugee camps in 1982.
"God willing, the others will join him soon," he added.
Sharon, 77, was described as being in a critical but stable condition in a Jerusalem hospital after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage overnight.
Mr Ahmadinejad, an ultra-conservative who won a shock election victory in June, has caused international outrage with a series of anti-Israeli remarks.
Earlier even as Sharon was battling for his life, the president issued a new diatribe questioning both Israel's right to exist and the truth of the Holocaust.
"Why would you impose such a bold and corrupt regime on the nations of the region unless it (the Holocaust) is a big historical lie," Mr Ahmadinejad said, addressing Western nations.
Mr Ahmadinejad's comments have already resulted in two rebukes from the UN Security Council, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also put off a planned visit to Iran in October.
The president has broken with the more measured language of his moderate predecessor Mohammad Khatami to brand the Holocaust a "myth" and Israel a "tumour" that should be "wiped off the map".
posted by Marko at 1/05/2006 01:21:00 PM
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