Iranian speaks his mind at food summit

The Iranian exile demonstrators said they wanted to remind the world that human rights and the right to free expression were being crushed in Iran. Almost as if to prove the point, an Iranian journalist who opposes the government and lives in Italy was barred from entering the FAO conference, which is being covered by an estimated 400 reporters. FAO officials said it was Italian security officers who blocked the journalist, Ahmad Rafat, presumably on a request from Ahmadinejad's retinue.

Italy is Iran's largest trade partner in the European Union, Ahmadinejad noted as he made light of any rebuff from Rome.

Ahmadinejad is not the only conference attendee ruffling feathers: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, defying a ban on his travel to European Union nations imposed because of his human rights record, addressed the summit Tuesday.

Mugabe blamed the West for his country's economic woes and accused charities of funneling money to opposition groups.

wilkinson@latimes.com

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He said . . .

Comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about Israel and the Palestinians:

"People like my comments, because people will save themselves from the imposition of the Zionists. European peoples have suffered the greatest damage from Zionists, and today, the costs of this false regime, be they political or economic costs, are on Europe's shoulders."

Tuesday (Rome)

"You should know that the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime which has 60 years of plundering, aggression and crimes in its file has reached the end of its work and will soon disappear off the geographical scene."

Monday (Tehran)

"We love all nations. We are friends with the Jewish people. There are many Jews living in Iran with security."

Sept. 24, 2007 (Columbia University)

"We inform you that the nations are like an ocean that is welling up, and if a storm begins, the dimensions will not stay limited to Palestine, and you may get hurt."

Oct. 20, 2006 (radio speech)

The Israeli government "does not show mercy even to kids, destroys houses while the occupants are still in them, announces beforehand its . . . plans to assassinate Palestinian figures and keeps thousands of Palestinians in prison."

May 2006 (letter to President Bush)

"Why do you want to force Israel on the holy land of Palestine by killing Muslims? . . . Give a piece of your land in Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska so the Jews can create their own state."

Dec. 14, 2005 (Tehran)

"They have created a myth that Jews were massacred and place this above God, religions and the prophets."

Dec. 14, 2005 (Tehran)

"Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury."

Oct. 26, 2005 (Tehran)

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Sources: Times archives and wire services