TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran on Tuesday voiced its respect for the result of Sunday's Palestinian presidential election and reiterated its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the official IRNA news agency reported. "Iran respects the result of any election held by the Palestinian people," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi was quoted as saying.

    "Any approach or strategy to deal with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be in conformity with the interests and his toricaland legitimate rights of the Palestinian state," he said. He stressed that ignoring the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and depriving the Palestinians of their natural rights were the roots for the continuation of the conflicts and sufferings of the Palestinian people.

    "The history of the Palestinians' struggle is a great lesson and a valuable experience, and the Palestinian leaders can manage to vindicate the Palestinians' rights with the people's support and resistance," he said.

    "The Palestinians need sympathy, cooperation and unity to regain their basic rights," he added.

    Chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mahmoud Abbas won a landslide victory in the presidential election to succeed late Yasser Arafat. Enditem