Ahmadinejad cites Israeli 'war crimes'

TEHRAN, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the United Nations should cite Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Meeting with Hamas Political Bureau chief Khaled Mashal Sunday in Tehran, Ahmadinejad called on the international community to put Israel under political pressure for "crimes against humanity and war crimes" during its 22-day campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the state-run Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

During his meeting with Mashal, Ahmadinejad stressed the need for quick reconstruction of Gaza, helping its people and reopening of the border crossings leading to the Gaza Strip. He also urged the Palestinians to "remain vigilant," noting that the "defeated Zionists" might try to wage another war in the future.

Mashal claimed victory over Israel in the conflict, telling Ahmadinejad, "Iranians shared in the victory of the people of Gaza over the Zionist occupiers," IRNA said.