Iranian president calls world powers 'arrogant'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Saturday that 15 captured British sailors trespassed in Iranian waters and called world powers "arrogant" for failing to apologize, the country's official news agency reported. "Instead of apologizing over trespassing by British forces, the world arrogant powers issue statements and deliver speeches," IRNA quoted Ahmadinejad as saying during a speech in the southeastern city of Andinmeshk. "The British occupier forces did trespass our waters. Our border guards detained them with skill and bravery. But arrogant powers, because of their arrogant and selfish spirit, are claiming otherwise," the hard-line leader told the crowd who was celebrating the Persian New Year holiday, IRNA said. Britain insists that the service members were in Iraqi waters of the Persian Gulf when they were seized by naval units of the Revolutionary Guards on March 23. Iran maintains the Britons were in Iranian waters and has demanded an apology.