The Speakers of Parliament of Mali and Gambia, on their part, stressed the necessity of the Muslim world’s support for the Palestinians, and said Iran sets a proper example in defending the Palestinian nation.

The two top legislative officials also lauded Iran’s stance on African countries, and added that Mali and Gambia are seeking to bolster relations with the Islamic Republic.
 
Ahmadinejad’s administration has striven hard to maximize relations with the African continent. President Ahmadinejad, heading a high-ranking delegation, left Tehran for a three-nation African tour on February 23, which took him to Djibouti, Kenya and Comoros.

According to Tehran Times Newspaper, Ahmadinejad also called for the Islamic states’ support for the oppressed people of Gaza. The Iranian president called the Palestinian issue as the first and the most important problem of the Muslim world, adding, “Today, the Zionist regime (of Israel) is going to collapse and the Palestinian nation is on the verge of final victory.”