US and Britain abuse UN says Iran president

Published on 20/09/2006 12:41

IRANIAN president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has launched a scathing attack on Britain and the United States, accusing them of abusing the United Nations Security Council to further their own needs.

In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York that lasted almost half an hour, the fiery leader also claimed his country's nuclear activities were "transparent and peaceful".

Mr Ahmadinejad spoke repeatedly of the "major powers" he said were responsible for spreading injustice in the world, but mentioned the US and UK only once by name.

The abuse of the security council as a tool of "threat and coercion" was "of grave concern", he said.

"The question needs to be asked: if the governments of the United States or the United Kingdom, who are permanent members of the security council, commit aggression, occupation and violation of international law, which of the UN organs can take them to account?"