Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Photo: AP
Ahmadinejad accuses opponents of contact with Zionists
In final speech before elections, Iranian president says reformists lying about economy to sway vote
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused his reformist opponents Wednesday of contact with "Zionist organizations".
In a televised speech during which he proclaimed his government's achievements and rejected accusations by opponents in the country's nationwide elections, Ahmadinejad accused reformist nominees of lying about Iran's economic troubles to sway voters.
"Why are you using these things to say that Ahmadinejad is a liar? What is the point of this?" he said. He also accused his opponents of falsifying documents. "Is this good, is this polite, is this just?" he asked.
The speech was Ahmadinejad's last before the elections, as Iran suspends all campaigning the day before the vote.
"We achieved much," he said, presenting data on inflation according to which unemployment had dropped. The president also mentioned the construction of hospitals, his government's nuclear program, and the satellites Iran had launched into space.
