Iran president in Palestinian democracy call

TEHRAN - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the only solution to the Middle East conflict is democracy for Palestinians, after provoking outcry last week by calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map".

The official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying the best step would be political rather than military.

"The only logical solution to solve the Palestinian issue is to hold free elections with the participation of Palestinians inside and outside the occupied territories and a recognition of the nation's legitimacy," he said after a meeting with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

When Iran uses the term "occupied territories" it usually means not only the West Bank and Gaza but the whole of Israel, whose right to exist Iran does not recognise.

Ahmadinejad appeared to be calling for full democratic representation for Palestinian refugees and emigres anywhere.

His comments last week sparked sharp international criticism, including a rebuke from the UN Security Council.

"I will ask UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to put on his agenda

- REUTERS