UNITED NATIONS - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke to a half-empty chamber, casting himself as a beleaguered champion of the developing world.
Related: What Did He Say?
At the same time, the Iranian leader issued stinging attacks on the United States and its allies without calling them by name. The delegations of the United States, Canada, and Israel were among those absent. Ahmadinejad did not mention the uproar over Iran’s nuclear program, calling instead for global nuclear disarmament.
Before he spoke, foreign ministers of six global powers told reporters on the sidelines of the General Assembly that they expect Iran to come clean about its nuclear program. Tougher sanctions against Iran are being considered if talks between the powers and Iran on the issue, set for Oct. 1, don’t yield results.
Look for an OCTOBER SURPRISE and the START of WWIII in a few weeks, folks!
At times, Ahmadinejad struck a softer tone, declaring that Tehran was “prepared to warmly shake all those hands which are honestly extended to us.’’
Turning to domestic affairs, Ahmadinejad insisted he won a “large majority’’ in what he described as “glorious and fully democratic’’ June elections.
Outside the UN complex, hundreds of supporters of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi rallied against Ahmadinejad. A demonstrator, Amir Arani, said that the election was stolen and that “our president is not Ahmadinejad.’’
Bush was never my president.
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