(Wall Street Journal) Farnaz Fassihi - Iran's government used annual pro-Palestinian demonstrations Friday to renew its threat to wipe Israel off the map, while dissident leaders accused the regime of using verbal attacks on Israel to divert attention from its battle with domestic political opponents. Iranian President Ahmadinejad attacked Washington's efforts to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians, saying no one has the right to negotiate away any Palestinian land. Ahmadinejad called on all Muslims to prepare for a final battle to free Jerusalem. Dissident leader Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a statement saying, "The orchestrated violence against the opposition shows that the occupation of Jerusalem and Israel is just an excuse. They consider their real enemy people who are fighting to free our country from oppression." Mousavi also condemned an attack on another opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, whose Tehran residence was raided Thursday by militia members loyal to the government.
2010-09-06 07:52:40Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive