Iran's president tells nuclear program is peaceful in Indonesia

Iran's president told Indonesian Islamic leaders Friday that his country's nuclear program was for civilian purposes, and that he wanted to live in a "peaceful manner."

Photo: Iran's president tells nuclear program is peaceful in Indonesia

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is visiting Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic nation, amid a deepening international standoff over Tehran's nuclear program and suspicions it is seeking atomic weapons.

He met with leaders of Muhammadiyah, the county's second largest Islamic group, for around half an hour on Friday. He was due to perform Friday prayers at Jakarta's Grand Mosque before flying to the resort island of Bali for a development conference.

"President Ahmadinejad told us he that he wants to live in a peace full manner and the nuclear program we have in the country is for civilian purposes," said Sudibyo Marcus, one of Muhammadiyah's chairman, reports the AP.

I.L.