Iranian Prez goes after Octopus Paul

Updated on: 28 July,2010 10:49 AM IST |
Agencies |

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Paul the Octopus, is a symbol of all that is wrong with the western world

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Paul the Octopus, is a symbol of all that is wrong with the western world

Germans want to eat him, Spaniards want to beatify him and bookmakers want to hire him.

Wrong symbol
Now Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attacked Paul the 'Oracle octopus' as a symbol of all that is wrong with the West.

Octocuss: In a conference, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (inset) said that
Ocotpus Paul is a symbol for the evil western world. File Pic

The excitable Iranian dictator has temporarily shifted away from favourite targets Israel and America to condemn the eight-legged World Cup tipping sensation as a symbol of decadence and decay among his enemies.

Beloved
Paul is the beloved cephalopod of Oberhausen, Germany, who won the hearts of the Spanish -- and broke those of Germany -- by predicting their World Cup victory, having previously correctly predicted the winner of Germany's six lead-up games.

Wrath
But he has earned the wrath of Iranian president for spreadingu00a0 'western propaganda and superstition.'
Paul was mentioned by Ahmadinejad on various occasions during a speech in Tehran at the weekend.

"Those who believe in this type of thing cannot be the leaders of the global nations that aspire, like Iran, to human perfection, basing themselves in the love of all sacred values," Ahmadinejad said.

Paul the Octopus, who has retired from predicting the outcome of football matches, could not be reached for
comment.

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