Ahmadinejad says U.S. sows Mideast discord

TEHRAN, April 18 (UPI) -- Foreign powers are plotting to pit Iranians against Arabs and Sunnis against Shiites, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged Monday.

"Arrogant powers are trying to sow the seeds of discord in the region," he said at a Tehran ceremony marking Army Day. "They are trying to provoke regional divisions and provoke wars among nations and governments in order to sell their weapons."

Ahmadinejad said the United States and its allies were intervening in the Middle East to "occupy the heart of politics, economy and culture of the world which is our region" and to "save the capitalist system and economy from a definite death," the government's Press TV reported.

"The U.S. is not an honest friend because it has always betrayed its friends. But Iran is a true friend of all nations," he said.

The president reviewed a military parade along with Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, the defense minister; Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi, the army commander; and Police Chief Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam.