On The Fifth Day Of...

    

LONDON, Feb 6: Diplomacy and unity among the world's "great democracies" are key to ensuring Iran meets its international obligations, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Iran has become a major obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East and must be prevented from developing nuclear weapons, she told BBC television.

"We believe dealing with the Iranians diplomatically is the key and that is why I am here for discussions," Ms Rice told the BBC on Friday at the start of her first diplomatic mission to Europe and the Middle East since taking office.

"We do need a strong message to Iran. We need a united front on the Iranian nuclear programme. We need us great democracies to tell the Iranian people that they deserve a better future than the present they currently have," she said.

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The Iranian government was a chief fund provider of terror groups that are trying to prevent peace between Israel and the Palestinians, according to Washington's chief diplomat, who was in Israel on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and was due to meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Monday.

"Iran is a destabilising force in the international system and we need unity of purpose, unity of message to Iran to stop those activities," Ms Rice said.

Washington would support "any effort to get Iran to live up to its international obligations that can succeed," she said.

"We believe the Iranians are being offered an opportunity and they ought to take it."

» Rice says Iran N-plan must be stopped -DAWN - Top Stories; 07 February, 2005