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Ahmadinejad to tour Latin America Ahmadinejad on Latin America tour
(about 12 hours later)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is arriving in Latin America this weekend for a four-day visit that is likely to alarm Washington. Venezuela's government has given a warm welcome to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is on a tour of Latin America aimed at strengthening ties.
Mr Ahmadinejad will meet various leaders including President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Rafael Correa of Ecuador - both fiercely anti-American. "Welcome to a fighter for just causes, to a revolutionary and a brother," said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Venezuela has been a strong ally of Iran in its controversial pursuit of a nuclear power programme.Venezuela has been a strong ally of Iran in its controversial pursuit of a nuclear power programme.
The trip will also include visits to Bolivia and Nicaragua. The Iranian president will also meet the leftist leaders of Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua during his tour.
Mr Ahmadinejad's talks with some of the US's most vocal critics is likely to alarm Washington, says one of the BBC's Latin America correspondents, Duncan Kennedy.
With his eyes fixed firmly on the Middle East, the last thing President Bush wants is another hostile diplomatic front opening up in his own backyard.With his eyes fixed firmly on the Middle East, the last thing President Bush wants is another hostile diplomatic front opening up in his own backyard.
Iran insists that it nuclear programme aims to provide energy
But with the arrival of the Iranian president in the region, that is exactly what some commentators are predicting.But with the arrival of the Iranian president in the region, that is exactly what some commentators are predicting.
'Alliance forged' The most worrying alliance for Washington is that being forged between Iran and Venezuela, our correspondent says.
President Ahmadinejad's four-day visit will take in some of the area's most vocal anti-American critics. Both countries are rich in oil and both are in agreement on Tehran's plan to build a nuclear power programme.
Iran insists that it nuclear programme aims to provide energyThey include President Hugo Chavez, newly sworn-in as leader of Venezuela, and Rafael Correa, about to be sworn in as president of Ecuador. Mr Chavez and Mr Ahmadinejad are expected to sign a series of new trade and economic co-operation agreements.
The Iranian leader will also meet President Evo Morales of Bolivia and President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, himself inaugurated into office this week and another one-time enemy of the United States. "Iran and Venezuela are two important allies on a global level, the two countries have important industrial and oil projects, which we will follow up in this trip," Mr Ahmadinejad said ahead of his trip, according to the state-run Irna agency.
The most worrying alliance for Washington is that being forged between Iran and Venezuela. Uneasy relations
Both countries are rich in oil and both are in agreement on Teheran's plan to build a nuclear power programme. President Ahmadinejad has previously referred to President Chavez as "my brother". Washington will be watching closely for any concrete measures or policies that develop - chief among them, any sign of Venezuela pursuing its own nuclear programme in conjunction with Iran.
Although Washington may withstand any rhetorical onslaught dished out by this collective of opposition heads of state, it will be watching closely for any concrete measures or policies that develop - chief among them, any sign of Venezuela pursuing its own nuclear programme in conjunction with Iran. That would be unacceptable to Washington and would turn what are now uneasy relations between the two states into something much more serious, our correspondent says.
That will be unacceptable to Washington and would turn what are now uneasy relations between the two states into something much more serious. Mr Ahmadinejad will also visit Nicaragua, where Daniel Ortega, the former Sandinista revolutionary, took office this week following his convincing election victory.
The Iranian president will also attend the swearing-in ceremony of Rafael Correa in Ecuador on Monday.
Ecuador's new president opposes a free-trade agreement with Washington, arguing it is damaging to Ecuadorean industry.
Mr Ahmadinejad is also expected to meet other South American leaders, including Bolivia's Evo Morales, on the sidelines of the ceremony.