[AFP/Middle East Times-Egypt] Thousands of Iranians chanting "Death to Israel" marched through central Tehran Friday to mark an annual day calling for Jerusalem to be handed to the Palestinians. "My wish and my hope is that Palestine will triumph and Israel will be destroyed," said civil servant Salman Abbas-Nejad, 51, who brought an effigy of an Israeli soldier to burn. An initiative started by Iran's revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, Quds Day annually draws thousands of Iranians to the streets to denounce Israel, which Iran does not recognize. Similar demonstrations are being organized in Beirut by the Iranian-backed Hizballah movement, and in Gaza under the auspices of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
2006-10-20 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive