Ahmadinejad to visit Azeri-populated regions

This will be his first visit to the Eastern Azerbaijan province after the recent mass protests of Azeri residents in the neighboring country. The demonstrations followed publication of a cartoon that insulted ethnic Azeris by state-owned newspaper Iran. Scores are said to have died or received severe injuries during the dispersal of the demonstrations.

Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan province, Mahammadkazim Memarzada, said Ahmadinejad will visit Tabriz, the center of the province this week, Radio Liberty reported. The Iranian president and officials are to visit 19 districts of the province and meet with public representatives.

During the visit, Ahmadinejad is also expected to examine construction of the pipeline underway in the Julfa region of the Eastern Azerbaijan province, AssA-Irada informs.

/AzerNEWS/