BEIJING, May 31 -- An Iranian newspaper says President Seyyed Mohammed Khatemi is working to boost Islam to counteract US advocated democracy in the Middle East.

    Iran's Keihan newspaper reported Monday that Khatemi proposed in a Sunday speech that Middle East nations should protect democracy, liberty and development by adopting widely recognized political systems in the Middle East and that any reliance on external power should be discarded.

    His proposal is an obvious objection to US President George W. Bush, who put forward the Democracy in the Middle East plan last year with an aim to spread democracy and capitalism in the region.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)