President says nuclear power is Iran's right

LONDON, Aug 19 (Reuters) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists that nuclear power is Iran's right and ''no one will stop us'' developing the country.

In an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper, he said a United Nations resolution insisting on the suspension of its nuclear activities was US-inspired and would fail.

''They are trying to deny our right to develop nuclear power. But no one can impose anything on the Iranian people. They will not succeed,'' he said while on a campaign tour of the north of his country.

''Our main task is to develop and build the Iranian nation. No one will stop us.'' Iran has insisted it is enriching uranium to generate electricity from nuclear power. The United States, Britain, France and Germany among others fear it is a cloak to disguise a programme to build nuclear weapons.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution at the end of July calling on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment by August 31.

Iran has set itself an August 22 deadline to respond to an offer of economic incentives designed to persuade it to comply with the suspension demand.

Reuters DKA GC1430