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Eliminate Israel, says Ahmadinejad

U.S., Britain must pay reparations

TEHERAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday the answer to the conflict in south Lebanon was the ``elimination of the Zionist regime,'' ISNA agency reported.

``The real cure for the conflict is elimination of the Zionist regime, but there should be first an immediate ceasefire,'' Mr. Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying from Putrajaya, Malaysia, where he is attending a summit of Muslim nations aimed at pressing for an end to Israel's military campaign.

Mr. Ahmadinejad also urged that ``any aggressor should go back to the Lebanese international border''.

As for the idea of deploying an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, he said ``the peace and security of Lebanon should be settled by the Lebanese people and Government. The presence of foreign troops is unacceptable, unless they are under the United Nations command.

``The circumstances should be prepared for the return of the refugees and displaced people, and prisoners should be exchanged,'' he said.

Mr. Ahmadinejad, whose country is at odds with the West over its nuclear programme, took a swipe at Britain and its arch-foe the United States.

``The losses inflicted on Lebanon should be paid by the U.S. and Britain that are supporters of the Zionist regime. We also propose that the Islamic nations immediately cut all their overt and covert political and economic relations with the Zionist regime''.

The Islamic republic has always maintained that it is only ``morally'' supporting Hizbollah.

Optimism

Mr. Ahmadinejad voiced optimism that the dispute over his country's nuclear ambitions could still be settled through talks, despite mounting international impatience at Teheran's rejection of U.N. Security Council demands.

``From the beginning, we have said that we have desire for dialogue and negotiations,'' he said. ``In the shadow of negotiations, it is possible to settle any dispute,'' he said. — Agencies

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