|
'It's an honour to be your enemy'
14/01/2008 10:10 - (SA)
Beirut - The leader of the militant Hezbollah group criticised US President George W Bush on Sunday for accusing Iran of supporting militant groups in the region and calling them "terrorist", saying he is honoured to be an enemy "of the Great Satan".
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's comments came in a speech he made on Sunday night in Beirut that was broadcast on a giant screen in front of thousands of supporters and followed remarks critical of Iran and Hezbollah made by Bush during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.
"I won't hide it. I felt honoured when Bush spoke about Hezbollah and resistance movements because when the Pharaoh and the Great Satan accuse us and considers us enemies ... it is an honour for us."
Earlier in the day in Abu Dhabi, Bush said that "Iran is today the world's leading state sponsor of terror. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to extremists around the world - while its own people face repression and economic hardship at home. It undermines Lebanese hopes for peace by arming and aiding the terrorist group Hezbollah."
Nasrallah said that since Bush could say nothing about Iran's nuclear programme and he accused the Persian state of supporting "terrorism" in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Wherever there is resistance, Iran is accused of supporting resistance movements, and these movements, in Bush's point of view are terrorist," the black-turbaned cleric said.
"He (Bush) supports the nation of terrorism, killing and wars," Nasrallah said referring to Israel. "When a country like Iran or Syria supports resistance movements that are defending their children, women, land, homes and holy places against the strongest country in the region, then this is a terrorist state that supports terrorism."
Hezbollah is a strong critic of US policies in the Middle East and had fought against Israel for more than 20 years. Iran and Syria are its main backers.
Bush is on a regional tour that has taken him to the Palestinian territories, Israel, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. He will also visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- AP
|
News
