Iran celebrates 'Republic Day'

TEHRAN, April 1 (UPI) -- Iranians marked "Republic Day" Sunday with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying insolent nations will disappear like "bubbles on water."

Ahmadinejad made the comment while in southwestern Khuzestan where he inspected areas that had been damaged during Iran's eight-year war with Iraq, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

During a stop in Mishdagh, Ahmadinejad noted that April 1 is a red-letter day in the nation's history, commemorating the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran 28 years ago. He called on Iranians to live spiritual lives, the IRNA said.

Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in a message marking the start of the new Iranian year 1386, declared this year's theme to be "national unity and Islamic solidarity."