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| Iran ex-president's Scots visit | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has flown into Scotland as part of a three-day trip to the UK. | |
| He was met with protests from some students and Iranian exiles when he arrived at St Andrews University. | |
| Mr Khatami was due to deliver a keynote lecture, receive an honorary degree and open the new Institute of Iranian Studies. | |
| He arrived at about 1600 GMT, nearly an hour behind schedule, amid intense security and a large police presence. | |
| Mr Khatami was met by university principal and vice-chancellor Dr Brian Laing and Dr Ali Ansari, the institute's director. | |
| A small group of protesters had gathered outside the Younger Hall where he was due to give a keynote speech at 1700 GMT and receive his degree. | |
| Dr Lang said: "St Andrews wants to recognise this man for his vision and his desire to change and for his wish to engage with the West." | |
| There are some who want to whitewash his crimes and pretend he is some sort of moderate Masoud ZabetiOpposition lawyer | |
| He added: "The bestowal of an honorary degree is intended to convey encouragement by the university - whose business is discussion, analysis and debate. | |
| "The university, so as to take those forward, is establishing an Institute for Iranian Studies - for that desire for dialogue and mutual understanding. | "The university, so as to take those forward, is establishing an Institute for Iranian Studies - for that desire for dialogue and mutual understanding. |
| "The degree denotes that the university is grasping his outstretched hand." | "The degree denotes that the university is grasping his outstretched hand." |
| The visit comes at a time when international relations with Iran are strained over nuclear development. | The visit comes at a time when international relations with Iran are strained over nuclear development. |
| St Andrews University students distanced themselves from plans by the National Union of Students to demonstrate against the visit. | |
| Mr Khatami, who was president of his country from 1997 to 2005, is the most senior Iranian figure to visit the UK since the country's revolution in 1979. | Mr Khatami, who was president of his country from 1997 to 2005, is the most senior Iranian figure to visit the UK since the country's revolution in 1979. |
| 'Peddling mistruths' | |
| Strong criticism has come from the Committee of Anglo-Iranian Lawyers. | Strong criticism has come from the Committee of Anglo-Iranian Lawyers. |
| Its president, Masoud Zabeti, told BBC Radio Scotland that Mr Khatami had committed crimes against the Iranian people. | Its president, Masoud Zabeti, told BBC Radio Scotland that Mr Khatami had committed crimes against the Iranian people. |
| "There are some who want to whitewash his crimes and pretend he is some sort of moderate," he said. | "There are some who want to whitewash his crimes and pretend he is some sort of moderate," he said. |
| "During his presidency, the UN General Assembly condemned the Iranian regime for discrimination of religious minorities. | "During his presidency, the UN General Assembly condemned the Iranian regime for discrimination of religious minorities. |
| "In 1999, we saw the most aggressive and brutal attacks on university dormitories after students took to the streets in protest. Seven years on, we still have students in prison." | "In 1999, we saw the most aggressive and brutal attacks on university dormitories after students took to the streets in protest. Seven years on, we still have students in prison." |
| To put on Mr Khatami's shoulders all the ills of a regime with brutalities is to completely misread the political situation Dr Ali AnsariInstitute of Iranian Studies | To put on Mr Khatami's shoulders all the ills of a regime with brutalities is to completely misread the political situation Dr Ali AnsariInstitute of Iranian Studies |
| However, Dr Ansari said there was not a lot of opposition to the visit. | |
| "It is a real pity that people have been peddling half-truths and mistruths in order to further a political agenda," he said. | "It is a real pity that people have been peddling half-truths and mistruths in order to further a political agenda," he said. |
| "You cannot conflate the political process in Iran and say that the president has all the power. It resides with the supreme leader, the ayatollah. | "You cannot conflate the political process in Iran and say that the president has all the power. It resides with the supreme leader, the ayatollah. |
| "To put on Mr Khatami's shoulders all the ills of a regime which does have brutalities is to completely misread the political and historical situation." | "To put on Mr Khatami's shoulders all the ills of a regime which does have brutalities is to completely misread the political and historical situation." |
| Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson described the decision to invite him as a "slur on Scotland". | Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson described the decision to invite him as a "slur on Scotland". |
| The invitation was supported by Jack Straw when he was foreign secretary. | The invitation was supported by Jack Straw when he was foreign secretary. |
| A university spokesman said that far from being a slur on Scotland, the visit reflected the international standing and status of the institution. | A university spokesman said that far from being a slur on Scotland, the visit reflected the international standing and status of the institution. |