Richard Owen in Rome
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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the controversial President of Iran, today used his visit to Rome for the UN summit on food prices and climate change to attack Israel's "criminal and terrorist Zionist regime", while also lambasting global capitalism.
In his speech to the forum he alleged that unnamed profiteering "forces" were driving up crude oil prices to further their "geopolitical aims".
"While the growth of consumption is lower than that of production and the market is full of oil, prices continue to rise and this situation is completely manipulated," he told the summit.
The blame lay with "some of the powerful international capitalists" who "artifically keep the price of oil and energy and consumption taxes high while encouraging the extraction of fuel from basic agricultrual products", he said in a reference to biofuel.
"While more than 25 per cent of the poor people of the world spend more than 75 per cent of their income on food, the imbalance between production and food consumption is becoming more severe," he told the summit. In the energy field, "hidden and unhidden hands are at work to control the prices mendaciously to pursue their political and economic aims".
He was flanked by armed security guards as he spoke. President Ahmadinejad's presence in Rome has aroused protests from Jewish groups, leftwing protesters and Iranian exiles. Protesters today climbed the Colosseum to throw down leaflets opposing his visit.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, has refused to meet President Ahmadinejad, and no other leaders attending the summit have offered to hold bilateral talks with him. Italy said that it was obliged to alloow him to enter the country because the summit is being held by the UN.
Before arriving in Rome from Tehran, the Iranian leader repeated his assertion that the Jewish state would soon disappear from the map, adding for good measure that the "Satanic power" of the United States faced destruction. "You should know that the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime which has 60 years of plundering, aggression and crimes in its file has reached the end of its work and will soon disappear off the geographical scene," he said.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival, he said that Europe was bearing the economic and political costs of a "false regime" of Zionists. He claimed that people liked his comments "because people will save themselves from the imposition of the Zionists. European peoples have suffered the greatest damage from Zionists and today the costs of this false regime, be they political or economic costs, are on Europe's shoulders". He did not however repeat these remarks in his summit address
President Ahmadinejad had asked for an audience with Pope Benedict, but the Vatican said all such requests had been turned down. It denied this amounted to a papal snub.
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he's tell the truth.. When jewish kill palestinian.. you say they protect themself from terrorist... so all palestinian are terrorist including baby and women? Come on you all.. you only heard and read from one side only.. how about iraq... when will be in peace.. life before U attack is much better
ThingIt, Istanbul, Turkey
"While more than 25 per cent of the poor people of the world spend more than 75 per cent of their income on food, the imbalance between production and food consumption is becoming more severe"
So what is incorrect in President Ahmadinejad's statement?
Oh, he is a terrorist. That's the ticket.
tarquinis, Seattle, USA
The world uses 8million barrels of oil every day. The city traders have 2 billion barrels of oil in their books. So who controls the price of oil?
emily, essex, uk
These defiant comments fall on deaf ears as the western propaganda machine has been at work for years, filling the world's public with hate for the Iranian regime and its leader..
Targets were identified well over a year ago.. It won't be long now till the US and/or Israel bombs Iran into oblivion
JB, London,
Ahmadinejad is a dictator and rules as Mugabe rules his "democratic" Zimbabwe. The Iranian economy is in ruins, inflation is at a all time high. People are starving and bitter cos of his regime and he is just fueling the fire and insulting every intelligent Iranian with his hog wash propaganda
Shem Breakey, London, UK
Ahmadinejad is a member of an Organized Crime Syndicate comprising the illegitimate regime of medieval ayatollahs that have occupied Iran today, headed by a Mafia Godfather mullah Khamenei. This murderous gang have taken people of Iran hostage and established their reign of absolute terror in Iran.
John, Atlanta, GA
Ahmadinejad gives hope to the peoples of the Middle East.
His prediction about the Israeli regime is hardly rocket-science - since its crumbling. Even our papers are quietly telling us the same thing.
Andy Dyer, London, UK,
At least what he says doesnt actually follow through. Bush and the Zionists he is talking about are wiping Palestine of the map, are profiting from Iraqi oil, are manipulating the cost of oil to increase their power and wealth. Like it or not Ahmadinejad is talking sense!!!
Yaz, London, UK
His speaches are far more honest than those of Geo Bush.
ithamer, toronto, Canada
1- if people in his country voted for him, where is the problem ?
2- Someone who believes what he says is called HONEST !
I do like his courageous
Alain, Paris, France
That is why your country will fall .. you people just love to appease everyone.What he said is wrong and hate filled
Josh Lassiter, San Antonio,Texas, U.S.A
Mr. Ahmadinejad is a learned man. He has read history books that most men don't know about. If most people haven't done their homework in reading, they won't know what he is talking about.
As oil continues to go up, the dollar will continue to go down. God bless Iran. Down with Bush.
Ignacio Beltrán, Mexicali, México
Its worrying to read what Mags said, this summarizes the far right wing thinking.
1- if people in his country voted for him, where is the problem ?
2- Someone who believes what he says is called HONEST !
I do like his courageous
Alain, Paris, France
"Armoured Dinner Jacket" has obviously been reading Adam Smith .....re - "Invisible Hands"
Rob, Eindhoven, NL
As the older generation that suffered from Israeli collaboration with the Shah dies off, attitudes will soften, but it may be too late: the balance is shifting away from the West to the East, to India and China. It may be the West ends up going to Iran with the begging bowl.
Arik Silver, Milwaukee, USA
I'm no supporter of him or his country but he's correct when he says the cost of oil is being controlled by un-named profiteering forces and where land should have been used to continue to grow food it is now being used to grow crops to produce oil for vehicles. Mugabe needs a long rope..........
Phil de Buquet, Newport,
"european peoples have suffered......from zionists",
Yes, Europe has regrettably suffered from
suicide bombers, train bombing, murder of filmmakers,riots, burnt out cars, bigotry towards the host country . But I suppose that this is accepteble.
cress, cape town,
The ayatollahs' days are numbered as their regime is increasingly unable to provide affordable food and fuel to its vast poor and middle classes. Ahmadinejad's bombast is the talk of desperate leader.
MARK KLEIN, M.D., OAKLAND, CA , USA
It's worrying that someone who obviously believes what he says should be in control of a country.
Mags, Nr Oxford, uk
Kids up here in Scotland have an expression that sums this fellow up perfectly: "He's wired to a Mars Bar!"
Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, Scotland, UK