KEY POINTS:
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that Opec's member countries have expressed interest in converting their cash reserves into a currency other than the depreciating US dollar, which he called a "worthless piece of paper."
His comments at the end of a rare Opec summit exposed breaks within the 13-member oil cartel -- especially after US ally Saudi Arabia was reluctant to mention concerns about the falling dollar in the summit's final declaration, AP reported today.
The hardline Iranian leader's comments also highlighted the growing challenge that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, faces from Iran and its ally Venezuela within the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
