Iran Seeks Obama Apology

Iran seeks Obama apology for US ‘crimes’ against Iran

* Iranian president demands US withdraw its troops from ‘across the world’, stop interfering in ‘other people’s affairs’

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demanded on Wednesday that US President Barack Obama apologise for “crimes" committed by the United States against Iran over the past 60 years.

The Iranian leader also called on Washington to withdraw its troops from across the world as a proof of Obama’s policy of change. “You were standing against the Iranian people in the past 60 years", Ahmadinejad said during an address in the western region of Khermenshah that was broadcast by state television.

“Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past bad acts and the crimes they committed against Iran. As to the troops, he said he expected two kinds of “deep and fundamental" change.

“Meet people, talk to them with respect and put an end to the expansionist policies. If you talk about change it must put an end to the US military presence in the world, withdraw your troops and take them back inside your borders.

Ahmadinejad said the advocates of change must “stop supporting the Zionists, outlaws and criminals. He called on the United States to “stop interfering in other people’s affairs. He also said the US government should “let the American people decide their own future. “Stop pressuring them", he added, without saying what he was referring to. Ahmadinejad said he welcomed change but the “change has to be fundamental". “If someone wants to talk with us in the language that (George W) Bush used ... even if he uses new words, our response will be the same that we gave to Bush during the past years", he added.

On Monday, Obama extended a diplomatic hand towards Tehran to break the deadlock between the two countries. In an interview with Al-Arabia television, Obama promised to lay a framework for his policy towards Iran. Also on Monday, Washington’s UN ambassador, Susan Rice, pledged “direct" support to Tehran if it halts its nuclear programme. Ahmadinejad said Tehran would “wait, see and listen to what they (US) say and then consider what they do". “If there is a real change, we will welcome it."