Israeli commander suggests assassination of Iranian president

Dubai, Nov 24 (UNI) A former Israeli commander said the West must consider assassinating Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to halt Tehran's nuclear programme.

Former Israeli Army Chief of Staff Moshe ''Boogie'' Ya'alon told the Australian daily The Sydney Morning Herald that the West should consider all options to stop the Islamic Republic's nuclear drive, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday, which was also carried by Iranian news agencies.

''We have to confront the Iranian revolution immediately. There is no way to stabilise the est Asia today without defeating the Iranian regime. The Iranian nuclear programme must be stopped,'' Mr Ya'alon said.

''We have to consider killing him (President Ahmadinejad). All options must be considered,'' the Israeli official added.

He claimed that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Persian Gulf littoral states would welcome any military strike against Iran.

Mr Ya'alon said that he had been surprised when the US decided to go into Iraq instead of Iran in 2003.

UNI XC RJ HT1655