AFP: Singapore on Friday described Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s latest call to wipe out Israel “irresponsible and provocative.”
SINGAPORE, Aug 4, 2006 (AFP) – Singapore on Friday described Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s latest call to wipe out Israel “irresponsible and provocative.”
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference called to address the Middle East crisis, Ahmadinejad said the solution would be the “elimination of the Zionist regime.”
“We are utterly appalled by the statement. The situation in Lebanon is very grave. The urgent immediate need is to secure humanitarian relief for the civilian casualties,” a Singapore foreign ministry spokesman said.
“Such irresponsible and provocative statements are obviously intended only to further inflame the conflict and not address either the immediate humanitarian needs or the longer term goal of a durable solution that will address the security concerns of all parties.”
Iran is one of the main backers of the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah militia, which captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12 and triggered the Israeli offensive.
Iran, like Syria, has been accused of financing and arming Hezbollah but has always maintained it only gives the Hezbollah moral support. Ahmadinejad had previously called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”
