Seeks allies on sanctions:

Ahmadinejad blasts Obama

UGANDA: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Saturday the US leader would “suffer more” if new sanctions are imposed on Iran over its nuclear drive, as he sought Uganda’s help to block UN action.

Ahmadinejad ridiculed President Barack Obama as a “mask” and blasted his efforts to take a hard line with Tehran, which Washington and other Western powers fear is covertly trying to develop nuclear weapons. “We think by issuing resolutions against us, Mr. Obama will suffer more,” the Iranian leader said at a press conference in Kampala.

“The philosophy of Mr Obama coming to power was to make a change to the tough behaviour of the United States.... The fact that he’s going to take decisions against the Iranian people is an end to his stature.”

He called Obama “nothing more than a mask” who “came to power in order to hide the real face and nature of the United States.”

The Western powers are pushing for another round of tough sanctions against Iran by the United Nations Security Council. Uganda is currently one of the rotating members on the 15-nation body.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, standing next to Ahmadinejad, said his country was still weighing the issue, even after a lobbying phone call from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

“On the question of the nuclear programme of Iran, we’re just students. I was not following this matter until Mr Gordon Brown phoned me some weeks ago,” Museveni told the press conference.

He said he has now been briefed on the matter by British envoys and also heard another version from the Iranians.

“It is clear that there are two versions.... For us, we are not an agent of anybody,” Museveni said, adding that Uganda was representing Africa on the Security Council. “We shall consult with our African brothers and see what position to take.”

Tehran wants to open talks with all Security Council members in an effort to break the deadlock over its nuclear programme, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said last weekend. Ahmadinejad was on a one-day visit in Uganda towards that end. Tehran has repeatedly stated that its uranium enrichment work is intended to produce nuclear energy, and has no military purpose.

Kampala, Sunday, AFP