Tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims whistled, cheered and waved flags as Iranian President Mohammad Khatami drove through the streets of Beirut on Monday, making the first visit by an Iranian president to Lebanon. Khatami was met at Beirut airport by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and Cabinet ministers, and Sheik Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah.... In a commentary published in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir on Monday, Khatami said the American and British troops should immediately withdraw from Iraq and allow the ``formation of a popular government.''
| Like Iran has? Or like Iran would like to have? |
Khatami said the coalition forces had suffered a moral defeat in Iraq. ``And the greatest mistake will be if the invasion forces attempt to impose on the (Iraqi) people a system that is immoral and alien,'' he said.
| He's talking about individual liberty and freedom of religion and the right to be left alone... |
He said the American people ``must not allow a special group with false ideas and dangerous ways of operating to use their national capabilities to preserve its own private interests.'' |