No congratulations from Washington

5 Aug 2009, 5:16 pm   -   Source: AFP
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Washington has recognised Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - accused of rigging elections - as Iran's president, but will not congratulate him.

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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in his first address after being sworn in for a second term, has fired a fresh salvo at Western powers saying Iran will resist "oppressive powers."
  
"We will resist oppressors and try to correct the global discriminatory mechanisms in order to benefit all the nations of the world," he said.
  
"The June 12 epic is the start of major change in Iran and in the world," the hardliner said, referring to his hotly disputed election win which provoked a wave of massive opposition protests and deadly unrest.
  
The hardliner also dismissed Washington's refusal to congratulate him on his re-election.
  
"They said they would recognise the election, but will not congratulate. This means they only want democracy which serves their interests and they don't respect people's votes and rights," he said.
  
"You should know that nobody in Iran is awaiting your congratulations. Iranians will neither value your scowling and bullying, nor your smiles and greetings."
  
The White House on Tuesday acknowledged Ahmadinejad as the "elected" president of Iran, but said it had no plans to congratulate the firebrand leader on his victory.
  
Parliament speaker Ali Larijani, who presided over the ceremony, also criticised Western powers for their "hasty" reaction to the election, which the opposition has branded a fraud.
  
"Some Western powers ridiculed themselves by their hasty behaviour and absurd imagination," he said.

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