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Hezbollah `honored' by Bush criticism: Nasrallah

Shiite protesters raise Hezbollah flags and pictures of Lebanese Hezbollah secretary-general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a protest in front of the US embassy compound in Manama, Bahrain, on Saturday. PHOTO: EPA

The leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization criticized US President George W. Bush on Sunday for accusing Iran of supporting militant groups in the region and calling them "terrorist," saying he was honored to be an enemy "of the Great Satan."

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's comments came in a speech he made on Sunday night in Beirut that was broadcast on a giant screen in front of thousands of supporters and followed remarks critical of Iran and Hezbollah made by Bush during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

"I won't hide it. I felt honored when Bush spoke about Hezbollah and resistance movements because when the Pharaoh and the Great Satan accuse us and considers us enemies ... it is an honor for us," Nasrallah said.

Earlier in the day in Abu Dhabi, Bush had said that "Iran is today the world's leading state sponsor of terror. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to extremists around the world -- while its own people face repression and economic hardship at home. It undermines Lebanese hopes for peace by arming and aiding the terrorist group Hezbollah."

Nasrallah said that since Bush could say nothing about Iran's nuclear program, he instead accused Tehran of supporting "terrorism" in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Wherever there is resistance, Iran is accused of supporting resistance movements and these movements, in Bush's point of view, are terrorist," the black-turbaned cleric said.

"He [Bush] supports the nation of terrorism, killing and wars," Nasrallah said, referring to Israel.

"When a country like Iran or Syria support resistance movements that are defending their children, women, land, homes and holy places against the strongest country in the region, then this is a terrorist state that supports terrorism," he said.

Hezbollah is a strong critic of US policies in the Middle East and had fought against Israel for more than 20 years. Iran and Syria are believed to be its main backers.
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