Iran cleric Shut down two-faced Security Council

TEHRAN, Aug 4 (Reuters) The U N Security Council should be scrapped for trying to make Iran halt its atomic work while failing to stop Israel's offensive against Lebanon, a senior Iranian clerical politician today said.

The comments by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the constitutional watchdog the Guardian Council, confirmed Tehran's defiance in the face of a U N resolution ordering it to stop making atomic fuel by the end of this month.

The West accuses Iran of enriching uranium for use in warheads.

Tehran says it is only for power stations.

''They must close down this United Nations and its Security Council, what kind of a Security Council is this?'' Jannati told Friday prayer worshippers in Tehran.

Jannati lambasted Israel for brutal tactics during the massive offensive it launched against Lebanon after Hizbollah guerrillas seized two of its soldiers on July 12, and criticised the world body for taking no action.

''The United Nations and the Security Concil are so weak, so incapable and so influenced by major powers that they cannot even issue a resolution,'' he said.

''But when it comes to Iran and trampling on Iran's right to use nuclear energy, they quickly issue a resolution,'' he added.

Some hardline student groups and Islamic militiamen vowed to attack the British embassy in Tehran after Jannati's sermon.

Police mustered at the building after some religious conservatives boasted they were going to storm the mission.

Britain is often attacked in Iran on the ground that it created the state of Israel.

REUTERS SY VV1650