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Iranian president visits Brazil | Iranian president visits Brazil |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in Brazil, where he will lead a delegation of business leaders. | |
He is due to meet President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and sign trade deals before visiting Congress and speaking at a university in Brasilia. | He is due to meet President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and sign trade deals before visiting Congress and speaking at a university in Brasilia. |
Brazil backs Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear programme. The day-long visit has already drawn criticism from Israel and members of the US Congress. | Brazil backs Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear programme. The day-long visit has already drawn criticism from Israel and members of the US Congress. |
Around 500 people from gay, Jewish and Christian groups protested on Sunday. | Around 500 people from gay, Jewish and Christian groups protested on Sunday. |
'Lends legitimacy' | 'Lends legitimacy' |
It is the first visit by an Iranian president to Brazil, which maintains close ties to the US, Israel and other countries trying to block Iran's nuclear ambitions. | It is the first visit by an Iranian president to Brazil, which maintains close ties to the US, Israel and other countries trying to block Iran's nuclear ambitions. |
But Brazilian President Lula has said he opposes further sanctions on Iran, and called for diplomacy instead. | But Brazilian President Lula has said he opposes further sanctions on Iran, and called for diplomacy instead. |
US State Department spokesman Robert Wood declined to comment on the meeting, but said he hoped Brazil would raise some of the US concerns with the Iranian leader. | US State Department spokesman Robert Wood declined to comment on the meeting, but said he hoped Brazil would raise some of the US concerns with the Iranian leader. |
New York congressman Eliot Engel said President Lula was making "a serious error" by "lending legitimacy" to Mr Ahmadinejad. | New York congressman Eliot Engel said President Lula was making "a serious error" by "lending legitimacy" to Mr Ahmadinejad. |
Israel too called it a "mistake" for Brazil to host him, AFP reports. | Israel too called it a "mistake" for Brazil to host him, AFP reports. |
Since coming to power in 2005, Mr Ahmadinejad has sought to build ties with leftist south American leaders. | Since coming to power in 2005, Mr Ahmadinejad has sought to build ties with leftist south American leaders. |
His five-nation tour also takes him to Venezuela and Bolivia, with stops in the West African countries of Senegal and Gambia on the way home. | His five-nation tour also takes him to Venezuela and Bolivia, with stops in the West African countries of Senegal and Gambia on the way home. |