(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - During an afternoon visit to Al-Azhar mosque and university, Egypt’s seat of Sunni scholarship, Mr. Ahmadinejad was publicly upbraided at a news conference by his hosts, who accused Shiites of interfering in Arab countries, including Egypt and Bahrain, and of discriminating against Sunnis in Iran, a Shiite-majority country.As a spokesman for Al-Azhar scolded his guest using divisive sectarian language, an aide to Mr. Ahmadinejad cut in. “We didn’t agree on this,” he said, as the Iranian leader nodded and replied: “We agreed on unity, brotherhood.” Ahmadinejad said if you want to continue your divisive speech, I will leave the conference. On Tuesday, Mr. Ahmadinejad squirmed as the spokesman for Al-Azhar, Hassan al-Shafei, related the details of the Iranian leader’s meeting with Al-Azhar’s grand imam, Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb. After saying the Iranian leader was received “not only as a great guest and the president of a sister country,” but also as a “friend,” the spokesman amplified differences between Sunnis and Shiites and talked mostly about what he called obstacles to unity. Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad stated that the Egyptian nation has contributed enormously to world civilization, adding that Iran and Egypt have similar traditions and deeply-rooted cultural affinities and are on the path to make dazzling advancements and attain their rightful positions.“The alliance between Iran and Egypt would not only benefit both nations but would also serve the entire international community,” the Iranian president added.On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad began a historic visit to Egypt, where he will attend a summit of heads of state and government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.He was received by his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Morsi upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport./129
source : ABNA
Tuesday
5 February 2013
8:30:00 PM
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