IRAN: EX PRESIDENT KHATAMI SAYS HOLOCAUST A HISTORIC FACT

Tehran, 28 Feb. (AKI) - Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami told the Isna news agency on Tuesday that the "Holocaust is a historic fact." Khatami's successor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly denied the existence of the Holocaust since December last year in a number of speeches against Israel. However, Iran's former president also said that Israel had "made a bad use of this historic fact with the persecution of the Palestinian people."

"We must acknowledge that the crimes committed by Germany's Nazi regime were a massacre of innocents, including a great number of Jews," said Khatami.

The reformist leader, who now heads two non governmental organisations promoting dialogue among cultures and religions, also warned that "the religion we follow condemns the assassination of even one innocent person, including an innocent Jew."

However, he added, "those who consider themselves to be victims of fascism are implementing fascist policies in the Middle East."