Ahmadinejad in Brazil to build nuclear, business ties

Rio De Janeiro: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is seeking a new source of legitimacy while making his first visit to Brazil, a nation that maintains close ties to the US, Israel and other countries trying to halt Iran's nuclear push.

The Iranian leader is set to meet privately Monday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who called it an honour to receive Ahmadinejad and defended Iran's right to develop nuclear energy. It's a much-craved pat on the back from a moderate nation as Ahmadinejad faces intense internal and external political pressure.

Ahmadinejad said Sunday that the two countries may discuss cooperation in the nuclear field, where Iran is under intense international pressure to stop uranium enrichment for fear that it is developing atomic weapons.