Ahmadinejad terms European politicians 'one more stupid than the other'

Tehran, Dec 26 : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday termed European politicians "one more stupid than the other".

"These (European) politicians neither know anything about politics nor about history," Fars news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a speech at at Arak mosque in Tehran.

"For example, they come and say let's destroy the minarets of the mosques and they think by that, they can block the flood of the Islamic movement and belief," he said at a ceremony marking an annual Shiite Muslim mourning ceremony.

"They do not understand that minarets do not make belief but it is the belief of the people that makes the minarets," Ahmadinejad added.

The Iranian president was referring the outcome of a Swiss referendum last month to ban the construction of minarets on mosques which Tehran harshly criticised and called on the Swiss government not to implement.

Ahmadinejad also referred to the United States, saying Iran would never allow the US to get domination over the Middle East.

"Iran is today 10 times stronger than last year and will stand against you (world powers) more powerful than before," he said in an apparent reference to a plan by the US and its allies to impose renewed sanctions on Iran due to its uncompromising stance in the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"While Iran is now a big power and undefeatable, there are signs that Iran's enemies worldwide are on the verge of collapse," he said.

Ahmadinejad is known for populist and fiery speeches at local ceremonies.