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Ahmadinejad says Egypt, Tunisia were inspired by Iran’s anti-Western protests

12 February 2011 01:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday urged Egyptians to continue their protests, to "free" themselves and choose their own leaders and their own form of government, a day after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak again refused to step down. APA reports quoting â€œTe Washington Postâ€.
Speaking during a massive rally to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Ahmadinejad said that the uprisings in the Arab world are inspired by Iran’s struggle against Western powers.
The protests, he said, herald the emergence of a new Middle East where, despite "satanic" Western designs, the United States and Israel would not be able to interfere. "Gather up Israel in the same way as you imposed it on the region," Ahmadinejad advised the United States and Europe.
Government representatives and soldiers handed out Egyptian flags to teenage schoolgirls who sang Iran’s praise, calling it the "cradle of Islamic belief and love." Honoring Iran’s resistance against world powers, one demonstrator held up a placard with a portrait of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the words "We will stand till the end."
The crisis that is roiling a regional ally of the United States dominated the celebration. Ahmadinejad said that a revered 9th-century Shiite saint, the 12th imam Mahdi, is managing the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
"This is a global revolution, managed by the imam of the ages" Ahmadinejad, who is very religious, told large crowds gathered on and around Tehran’s central Azadi square.
He predicted the formation of a world government, ruled by Imam Mahdi. "Hearts and beliefs are swiftly leaning towards forming a global governance and the necessity of the rule of the ’Perfect Human’ linked to the heavens."
Opponents of the Iranian president have accused him of flirting too much with a deeply rooted belief that Mahdi, the final successor of the prophet Muhammad, will return to Earth to create a holy global government.
Friday’s state-backed rally comes as two opposition leaders, former presidential challengers Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, have asked for permission to stage a protest on Monday in solidarity with the people of Egypt and Tunisia.
Although Iran saw months of unrest after Ahmadinejad claimed victory in a disputed election in June 2009, recent months have been quiet.
Government officials say they suspect that activists want to use the rally to protest domestic issues. It is highly improbable that Iran will grant permission for the event, but opposition Web sites said that there still might be protests.
On Thursday the government arrested seven opposition activists. Karroubi, a former head of parliament who has criticized Iranian leaders, was placed under house arrest, the Sahamnews Web site reported.
During the anniversary celebration, Ahmadinejad attacked critics of his domestic policies, some of whom held key government positions for decades.
"Some people consider themselves as the owners of the Iranian nation and revolution," Ahmadinejad said, clearly referring to a growing group of older politicians dissatisfied with his government. He cited younger generations as "wiser and more revolutionary."

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Ahmadinejad says Egypt, Tunisia were inspired by Iran’s anti-Western protests

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