SOUTH AFRICA: IRANIAN PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT US

Eng/Farsi/Nat

Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani accused the United States on Friday of creating new tensions in the Persian Gulf for its own reasons.

Rafsanjani was speaking at a joint news conference with President Nelson Mandela during his visit to South Africa to finalise economic agreements including an oil deal.

Mandela was also critical of the U-S action, saying no country was entitled to take on the role of the world's police for itself.

South Africa was the final stop on Rafsanjani's six-nation African tour.

South Africa is the last leg of Rafsanjani's six-nation African tour.

Leading a 250-strong delegation of top Iranian officials and business leaders, his high- profile African tour has also taken him to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Rafsanjani received an official welcome in South Africa from President Nelson Mandela as he arrived at Johannesburg international airport on Thursday.

On Friday the Iranian President met with Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

In a news conference following their meeting, the two leaders spoke to reporters about the situation in northern Iraq and tensions between the U-S and Saddam Hussein.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

No country is entitled to assume to itself the role of the policemen of the world, and it is disturbing that any country should allocate to itself that role.

SUPER CAPTION: Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa

Rafsanjani accused the United States of creating new tensions in the Persian Gulf for its own reasons.

And he blamed Iraq for creating a pretext for such tensions.

SOUNDBITE: (Farsi with English interpreter)

Iraq has provided them with this pretext which has not been right in his invasion of Kuwait and recently his incursion upon Kurds. But now the victim of all this bad attitude are the Iraqi people.

SUPER CAPTION: Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, President of Iran

Rafsanjani's visit has angered some in South Africa who cite Iran's record on human rights and international terrorism.

But Mandela said South Africa would not accept being told which countries could be its friends.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

But we form our friendships on the basis of principle and those who were with us when we were all alone will continue to be our friends and the fact that any particular country may be their enemies does not influence our attitude. We are a sovereign and independent country and we are prepared to defend that sovereignty and independence and no country can dictate to us.

SUPER CAPTION: Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa

Iran is South Africa's main supplier of fuel.

The United States has accused Iran of supporting international terrorism and criticised South Africa and other developing countries for their alliances with Iran.

By seeking stronger trade and political ties with Africa, Rafsanjani wants to open markets to Iran outside the U-S sphere of influence and offset the isolation caused by US measures.

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