(Financial Times-UK) Gareth Smyth - Commentators around the Arab and Muslim worlds have noted a popular warming to Ahmadinejad's strong assertion of Iran's "right" to enrich uranium and his fierce condemnation of Israel. Under Ahmadinejad, Iran's nuclear program has become a popular mission, part of his desire to bring "justice" to earth in the name of Shia Islam. Ahmadinejad's order this week for sports authorities to lift the ban on women attending top football matches has brought him into conflict with fundamentalist allies. Even opposition from six ayatollahs, including some of Iran's most senior clerics, has so far failed to budge the president.
2006-04-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive