AHMADINEJAD WANTS FLAWS IN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM RECTIFIED

TEHRAN, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has pointed his
fingers at "the flawed financial system of domineering countries" for the
current world financial turmoil.

The outspoken leader of Iran said the international community must strive
to rectify the system so as not to prolong the problem.

"We should try to expand as much as possible, relations among various
friendly countries and Islamic nations, to overcome the situation," he said at a
joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi who is on a four-day official visit to Iran.

According to Ahmadinejad, through the collective strength of such
countries, efforts to improve the financial system would be successful.

Speaking through a translator, the president said Abdullah had expressed
clear viewpoints on this matter during their talks in Tehran Monday.

On sanctions imposed by the United Nations and United States on Iran due to
its nuclear ambitions, Ahmadinejad stressed that sanctions by "muscle-flexing
countries" were illegal and implemented on the basis of animosity felt towards
his country.

"It's quite natural for our nation to equip and defend itself against
those sanctions. In fact, our nation welcomes the sanctions, having converted
them into opportunities for progress," he said.

Describing sanctions as an outdated instrument, the president said those
who had imposed sanctions on Iran had, in fact, sanctioned themselves rather
than Iran.

Despite the challenges, he said the country was able to stand on its own
feet and continue its path towards progress.

-- BERNAMA