Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Iran's leader hails "Islamic" uprising in Arab world
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Iran's leader hails "Islamic" uprising in Arab world
Reuters - Saturday, February 5
Send
IM Story
Print
By Robin Pomeroy and Ramin Mostafavi
TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader saluted on Friday what he termed an "Islamic liberation movement" in the Arab world, and advised the people of Egypt and Tunisia to unite around their religion and against the West.
In his first public comments on the popular uprisings in the region, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran's 1979 revolution, which deposed the U.S.-backed shah and established an Islamic Republic, could serve as a pattern for the Arab uprisings.
"The awakening of the Islamic Egyptian people is an Islamic liberation movement and I, in the name of the Iranian government, salute the Egyptian people and the Tunisian people," Khamenei told worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran.
Both Israel and the United States are concerned about the possibility of the Egyptian uprising taking on an Islamist ideology and would not like to see Iran's influence increase in the region as Arab states distance themselves from Washington.
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has portrayed itself as only part of a broad popular revolt. It has a mainly lay leadership, unlike in Iran, and backs democratic pluralism. It has no plans to run for Egypt's presidency, a group leader said on Friday.
The 71-year-old Khamenei dismissed as "lies" any suggestion that Iran wanted to interfere in the region's affairs.
"The awakening of people is a war between two wills, the will of the people and the will of the enemies of the people," said Khamenei, who condemned the huge street protests that erupted in Iran after the disputed re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009.
Khamenei called on the Egyptian army to back the protesters and "focus its eyes on the Zionist enemy," a reference to Israel which fears a change of regime in Egypt could jeopardise its 1979 peace treaty with its neighbour to the west.
"If Egypt halts its alliance with and takes its real position, what a great event will happen in the region. All the late Imam's prophecies will come true," he said, referring to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran's revolution who called for popular uprisings throughout the Islamic world.
CALL ON GOD
In a sermon punctuated with chants of "Death to America" from a congregation that included Ahmadinejad and other important political and military figures, Khamenei said: "Our revolution has been able to inspire hope, to set an example."
Addressing the people of the Arab world -- a predominantly Sunni Muslim region which has historically viewed Persian Shi'ite Iran as an adversary -- he cautioned them to beware of Western influence subverting their revolutions.
Without naming Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the U.N. nuclear agency, who claims endorsement from disparate opposition groups from secular students to the Muslim Brotherhood, Khamenei warned Egyptians against compromising with any leader who might win Western approval.
"They are trying to replace one spy with another. They are trying to focus the spotlight on certain faces to impose the rule of the spies on you. Do not accept anything less than an independent popular regime that believes in Islam," he said.
"If they are able to push this through then what will happen to the U.S. policies in the region will be an irreparable defeat for America," he said, telling Arab peoples he was their "brother in religion."
"I call on God to help you and bring about victory for you. I feel proud for your awakening."
While Iranian officials have lauded the protests for taking inspiration from Iran's revolution, Iranian opposition figures say the events have more in common with the 2009 anti-Ahmadinejad demonstrations, which were stamped out by a government that denied the presidential election was rigged.
After Friday prayers, several hundred Iranians staged a demonstration of solidarity with the Egyptian protesters, burning pictures of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and shouting slogans against Israel and the United States.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
UK-World Summary Reuters - 22 minutes ago
Italian president rejects Berlusconi's tax decree Reuters - 22 minutes ago
Egyptians march against Mubarak on "Departure Day" Reuters - 1 hour 8 minutes ago
Myanmar's parliament appoints Thein Sein president Reuters - 1 hour 20 minutes ago
Israel, Palestinians float Gaza gas rapprochement Reuters - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Drive to unify euro economy as rescue roadmap set
January snowstorms cloud US jobs market
Saucy speaker's wife pic causes storm in Britain
Germany, France launch new eurozone convergence plan
Spanish lender Banco Popular's profits down 23%
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Russia loses military satellite: reports
US auto sales jump 17 percent in January
Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008
Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 5 February 2011 Egyptians march against Mubarak on "Departure Day"
Danish cartoonist's attacker jailed nine years
US-TECH Summary
Saucy speaker's wife pic causes storm in Britain
Huge crowds turn out for Mubarak 'departure day'
January snowstorms cloud US jobs market
Verizon halts iPhone orders after record first day
Egypt set for Tunisia-style change: UN rights chief
'Cocaine clothes' found in Italy drug bust
Drive to unify euro economy as rescue roadmap set
Jordan Islamists demand speedy political reform
|
Police beat, arrest Sudanese at short-lived protests
Trotsky assassination 'planned from US drug store'
Egyptian censor-busting Moroccan website hacked
Spanish lender Banco Popular's profits down 23%
Germany, France launch new eurozone convergence plan
Britain wants international rules on cyberspace
Iran's leader hails "Islamic" uprising in Arab world
Small plane crashes in Iraq, 7 killed
|
Cisco to buy digital video firm Inlet for $95 million
Belarus leader fires diplomatic, oil officials
|
Tunisia bets revolution will boost tourism
|
Iran says Stuxnet claims need investigating
Myanmar's parliament appoints Thein Sein president
|
Congo gets first rehab centre for rape victims
|
Israel, Palestinians float Gaza gas rapprochement
|
Japan protests Russian defence chief's Kurils visit
Two dead in Thai-Cambodian border clash
Nagatomo realising a dream at Inter
Sri Lanka parties clash over jailed army general
Strong quake hits India-Myanmar border
BBC defends Mexico jokes on Top Gear
Quake of 6.4 magnitude rocks eastern India
Kazakh hosts extend winning streak at Asian Games
US comic book to depict British royal romance
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Stephen Colbert sells his portrait to benefit the arts
New SeaWorld whale show has trainers out of water
Swedish actress Lena Nyman dies at 66
Food prices triggering global unrest: UN
Kusturica to adapt Bosnian epic for the big screen
Britain wants international rules on cyberspace
|
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end up; rupee weakens
Africa's biggest film fest takes aim at piracy
BBC defends "Top Gear" jokes about Mexico
Zorlu secures $37 million for Pakistan wind farm-bank
Documentary Inside Job has inside track to Oscar
|
Stephen Colbert sells his portrait to benefit the arts
|
New SeaWorld whale show has trainers out of water
|
Obama hopes Mubarak will make "the right decision"
Berlusconi fights back as sex trial looms
Corning makes upbeat glass forecast, shares rise
CORRECTED
Drive to unify euro economy as rescue roadmap set
Berlusconi dismisses legal troubles as 'farce'
January snowstorms cloud US jobs market
Witness: Egypt police keep firm grip in Cairo's slums
Verizon reins in data hogs before unleashing iPhone
Al Jazeera says Cairo office destroyed by "thugs"
Mubarak hangs on after mass protests in Egypt
|
Leaked files show details of Assange allegations
Britain calls for cooperation on cybersecurity
Israel, Palestinians float Gaza gas rapprochement
85 percent of US adults own cellphone: survey
Witness: Egypt police keep firm grip in Cairo's slums
|
Corrected(OFFICIAL)-ElBaradei says sees himself as change agent
Factbox
Thai and Cambodian troops in deadly clash near temple
|
85 percent of US adults own cellphone: survey
Northern Mexico cold snap paralyzes Ciudad Juarez
|
Justin Bieber to appear on Saturday Night Live
Philippine Muslim rebels hope for peace deal in a year
|
Dead Guantanamo prisoner was no enemy, lawyer says
Okazaki joins Japanese exodus to Germany's Bundesliga
Torrential downpours pile misery on Australia
Rebels admit major split ahead of Philippine talks
Ten more dead in Philippine floods
Sumo tournament 'to be cancelled over scandal'
Lady Gaga collaborator talks "Born This Way" album
Ten killed in China bus accident: media
James Franco in early talks for "Oz"
Justin Bieber to appear on Saturday Night Live
Thai and Cambodian troops in deadly clash near temple
Documentary "Inside Job" has inside track to Oscar
China's hostile space capabilities worry US: official
US envoy to Japan, S.Korea on child abductions
Hackers penetrate Nasdaq computers: report
|
Japan's major firms enjoy 24% profit gain: survey
US clears China of currency manipulation
Facebook to unveil Menlo Park campus next week
|
Mitsubishi expands production at US plant
Slim's Telcel pitches new fee proposal to rivals
|
Canada court overturns government ruling on Globalive
|
Corning makes upbeat glass forecast, shares rise
|
Justin Bieber to appear on Saturday Night Live
|
Lady Gaga collaborator talks Born This Way album
|
Facebook to unveil Menlo Park campus next week
Canada court overturns government ruling on Globalive
James Franco in early talks for Oz
|
Slim's Telcel pitches new fee proposal to rivals
Russian rebel leader vows year of 'blood and tears'
Clinton urges accountability across Mideast
UK's Cameron says multiculturalism has failed
Polio returns to cripple Angola and its neighbours
Quartet prioritize Egypt's impact on MidEast talks
|
Chechen rebel threatens Russia with more attacks
|
Cuba seeks 20 years for American 'spy'
U.S. urges Yemen opposition to avoid provocation
|
Bush's Swiss visit off after complaints on torture
|
Nipah virus kills at least 15 in Bangladesh
Iraqi premier says will give up half his salary
|
Sen. Hatch: Kagan should sit out health care case
Ahmadinejad chides parliament for sacking minister
|
Zimbabwe parties condemn spate of political violence
|
COLUMN: All a-chirp over fighting bugs
Myanmar state media asserts junta head's role
Troops replace tourists at Egyptian Museum
Northeast India rebels announce peace talks
Horses bring relief in rough Mexico City
Sri Lanka opposition warns of Arab-style uprising
15 dead in Bangladesh as Nipah virus returns
India goes after 'black money' hoarders
Indian Kashmiris protest student's killing by army
Nokia likely to sack several executives: report
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights