World must prevent Islamist regime in Pakistan: Netanyahu

AFP
Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008

The international community must prevent the rise of a radical Islamist regime in Pakistan that would possess nuclear weapons, Israel's opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.

Netanyahu -- whose right-wing Likud party is widely favoured to emerge victorious in general elections in February -- also reiterated his call that Israel's arch foe Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear bomb.

"We don't want radical Islam to possess nuclear bombs," the former prime minister said in a speech in Tel Aviv.

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"I am talking about the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and at the same time of the need to prevent Pakistan from coming under an radical Islamic regime," he said.

The hawkish MP, seen by many as likely to become the Jewish state's next prime minister following the February 10 elections, said US president-elect Barack Obama would have to address both threats.

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