DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S INCREASING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000553 SIPDIS FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM IR LT SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S INCREASING EXTREMISM REF: STATE 199225 CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) On October 28, Ambassador reviewed key points concerning Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's increasing extremism and unacceptable statements including that "Israel must be wiped off the map" during discussion with Lesotho's Foreign Affairs Minister Moleleki. Moleleki stated that in his opinion Ahmadi-Nejad is a "crazy man" and that his statements over the past 2 months have continued to reveal his disregard for human rights and reflect the deranged character of Iran's leader. ¶2. (C) Ambassador requested that a public condemnation of the Iranian leader's remarks be made by the Government of Lesotho. Moleleki went on the record to say that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns these remarks and that he would take the issue of a public statement to Lesotho's Prime Minister Mosisili for approval before confirmation of release of such a statement. Post will follow up with Moleleki after he returns from Addis Ababa where he expects to attend a special African Union (AU) session of the Security Council from this weekend through next week, returning on or about November 4.