Ahmadinejad urges Arab leaders to reform

Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Arab leaders to heed popular demands for reform at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the presidential website said on Tuesday. "Today, the people of the region must enjoy equal rights, the right to vote, security and dignity, and no government can deprive them of freedom and justice or refuse their peoples' demands," the Iranian leader was quoted as saying.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that all regional governments can run their countries by introducing reforms and realizing their peoples' demands," he added.

Ahmadinejad did not mention Iran's closest Arab ally, Syria, which has seen popular protests against the regime since mid-March.

Ahmadinejad also cautioned regional countries against "deceitful schemes" hatched by the United States to save the Israeli regime and boost its own economy.