Ahmadinejad vows change, respect

8 Jul 2009, 7:09 am   -   Source: AAP
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Controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed to 'respect' young people when his new government takes office, after intense post-election protests.

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed to make changes to his team and "respect" young people when his new government takes office after his viciously disputed re-election.

"The structure of government should change, the changes in the government will be considerable," Ahmadinejad said in a televised address on Tuesday.

He said his new government will put "housing, employment and economic reform" on its agenda.

"I am against police confrontation with people... We must respect people's tastes especially the youth," said Ahmadinejad, whose opponents say was only re-elected through vote rigging.

The hardliner, who enjoys the backing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was announced the winner of June 12 poll amid fraud allegations by former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and reformist candidate Mehdi Karroubi.

The disputed results spurred hundreds of thousands to take to streets in week-long protests which police admit led to the death of at least 20 Iranians and the arrest of more than 1,000.

Human rights groups say the number arrested was more than 2,000 in the biggest upheaval since the Islamic Republic was established 30 years ago.

Iran has accused Western powers, notably Britain and the United States, of stoking post election unrest.

Ahmadinejad hit out at world powers over their "interference and childish acts" and vowed that Iran "will not back down in seeking its deserved position and rights."

Iran is locked in a standoff over its controversial nuclear programme which the West fears is a cover for weapons development, a charge than Tehran denies.

Ahmadinejad insisted that the election was fair, saying: "This was the most beautiful and cleanest election.

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