By IANS
Algiers : Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for an economic grouping by Muslim states to confront what he called the “economic dominance of Western powers”.
“Selective policies, domination over sources of energy and unfair distribution of wealth originate from big powers’ economic dominance,” said Ahmadinejad in a meeting of Iranian and Algerian businessmen Monday, according to the Irna news agency.
The president was on a two-day official visit to Algeria on the invitation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Ahmadinejad proposed, “Islamic states can form a powerful economic bloc with the help of an Islamic body such as the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).”
Stressing that Iran and Algeria could be the “founders” of such a grouping with the help of their businessmen, the Iranian president assured “Tehran will make its utmost efforts to this end”.
Given the fact that Iran and Algeria enjoy rich sources of energy, Ahmadinejad said, the two capitals could “take big steps to meet the global demands for energy”.