Iran's supreme leader accused the United States of undermining Palestinian statehood in a message Sunday to a pro-Palestinian conference in Tehran that brought together leaders of militant Palestinian groups. Among those attending the two-day conference, marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, father of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, was Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, head of the Islamic Jihad, and Ahmed Jibril, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. (Read photo caption)

Both groups, on the U.S. State Department list of terrorist organizations, oppose peace with Israel and have claimed responsibility for many deadly attacks against Israelis.

"From the 1979 Camp David accord up to date, policies of the United States have been to destroy the spirit of jihad (war for a just cause) and resistance and gradually wipe out the Palestinian nation," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying in his message by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

Khamenei said the Sept. 2000 Palestinian uprising was "one of the divine signs that will heavily punish the black-faced (Israeli) criminals." Conference organizer Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour said so-called suicide attacks and the uprising were the only ways Palestinians can liberate themselves from Israeli occupation.

"Today, Palestinians have found the path for liberating their land and for establishing an independent government, and will not deviate from the path of martyrdom," IRNA quoted him as saying.

Mohtashemipour, said that the Palestinian intefadeh was more successful than Arab wars or peace talks with Israel.

"The achievement of ... intefadeh is greater than Arabs' wars against Israel and all the peace talks," IRNA quoted him as saying.

PHOTO CAPTION

Among those attending a pro-Palestinian conference in Teheran, marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, father of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, was Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, head of the Islamic Jihad, ( R ) and Ahmed Jibril, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command.(L)