Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday expressed regret over some wrong information passed on to the Head of Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI based on which he made the recent comments about the auspicious religion of Islam, and voiced his respect for him.
Ahmadinejad made the remark before leaving Caracas for New York, while attending a joint press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez. The Iranian president is expected to participate in the 61st annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York (September 19-27).
Speaking to reporters, Ahmadinejad said that a great number of world people fall victim to war and violence and lose their lives. "A closer look at the victims makes one realize that Europe and the US actually have a major role in such wars.
Turning to Islam as `a religion of peace and tranquility', he said that all divine religions promote peace, friendship, tranquility and justice. "Any problem witnessed in the world is not associated with religions but rather it has to do with the performance of some of their followers," he added.
