Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has again called the Holocaust a
lie by Western nations designed to create a pretext for the creation of
the Jewish state of Israel.
Mr. Ahmadinejad made the comment
Friday as tens of thousands of Iranians filled the streets of the
capital, Tehran, for an annual government-sponsored rally to express
support for Palestinians and condemn Israel.
The Iranian president called the Holocaust a myth and an unproveable lie designed to promote support for Israel.
Opposition
groups also took part in Friday's rally, despite a warning by security
officials to stay away. Opposition activists sought to take advantage
of the large gatherings to protest the disputed re-election of
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Security officers clashed with the opposition supporters and several protesters were detained.
Following
Iran's disputed June 12 elections, rights groups said hundreds of
people were detained in clashes with security forces during
post-election, anti-government demonstrations. Since then, authorities
have held public trials of the accused and tried to marginalize
moderate officials within the government.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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