Ahmadinejad seeks WWII compensation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec 19, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country should be compensated for damages sustained during World War II under British and Russian occupiers.

Ahmadinejad told reporters Friday at the U.N. climate change summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, he will soon write to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asking for his country to be compensated, Press TV reported.

"We will seek compensation for World War II damages. I have assigned a team to calculate the costs," Ahmadinejad said. "I will write a letter to (Ban) asking for Iran to be compensated for the damages."

Ahmadinejad told Press TV World War II's allied victors inflicted much damage on Iran by invading the country and using its resources.

Iran declared its neutrality at the start of World War II, but was invaded by both Britain and the Soviet Union in August 1941. Press TV said Iran's refusal to comply with Allied demands to expel all German nationals from the country provided the "excuse" they needed to occupy the country, which the Allies used as a route to transport war materiel to the Soviet Union.

Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId={291249C3-8342-46DE-BD3B-E14D4ABE72A0}&src=NLEN.