Arab nations will usher in 'new Middle East', says Ahmadinejad

Damascus: Iran's president says Arab nations will usher in a new Middle East "without Zionists and without colonialists."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke Thursday during a trip to Syria. The trip follows a string of US efforts to break up Syria's 30-year alliance with Tehran.

He said that "if the Zionist regime wants to repeat its past mistakes, this will constitute its demise and annihilation."

Ahmadinejad said Iran, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon will stand against Israel.