Tehran, April 14: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has underscored all nations' entitlement to freedom and free will for the establishment of their own political systems.
"Elections, justice, morality … are the rights of nations and peoples across the world, who strive for justice, goodness, monotheism and brotherhood," IRIB quoted President Ahmadinejad as saying in an address to a public gathering in the southeastern Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
The Iranian chief executive also criticized policies of certain Western countries towards the political crisis in Libya, where heavy fighting between revolutionary forces and Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi's loyalists have claimed the lives of thousands of people.
"Today they came and said that 'We support Libyan opposition groups', they sent troops and conducted bombardments. Then they realized that their interests are other things, and immediately changed the scenario and attacked the oppositionist people," he said.
The remarks come amid mounting doubts about the efficiency of NATO's UN-mandated airstrikes in troubled Libya, which were supposed to protect the lives of Libyan protesters. But the attacks have proved counterproductive as they have raised civilian casualties and failed to rein in the Gaddafi forces.
The Iranian president went on to lash out at the West's military intervention in the post-election political impasse in Ivory Coast.
"An election was held in Ivory Coast and there was a difference between the two candidates but they immediately entered (the conflict) and killed people by shelling and bombardments. Today they are claimants of freedom and human rights," President Ahmadinejad noted.
Thousands of people have been killed in Ivory Coast since the controversial presidential election in November 2010.
On Monday, forces loyal to president-elect Alassan Ouattara, backed by French and UN troops, stormed deposed President Laurent Gbagbo's residence in Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan and captured him following a fierce battle.
--------Agencies
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