President Bush appeals to Iranians on radio

U.S. President Bush addressed the people of Iran in a radio broadcast thus opening around-the-clock American broadcast on this country. According to Bush, the broadcasting will be performed by Radio Farda based outside the United States.

The U.S. President sent "warm greetings" to the people of Iran and said his "thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian people, particularly the families of the many Iranians who are in prison today for daring to express their hopes and dreams for a better future." Bush added that Voice of America and VOA TV services to Iran would be continued.

While stressing that "the Iranian government continue to place severe restrictions on access to uncensored information", Bush said that the Iranians deserved "a free press to express themselves to help build an open, democratic and free society", and called on "the government of Iran to respect the will of its people and be accountable to them".