Ahmadinejad leaves for NY nuclear conference

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left Tehran to attend the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in New York, the foreign ministry spokesman told state television. The Islamic republic's delegation headed by Dr Ahmadinejad left for New York this morning to participate in the NPT review meeting, spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying on Irans state television's website. The president will take part in the conference to defend the rights of Iranian people and all nations, he said, adding the hardliner will frankly inform all about the Iranian nation's position. Ahmadinejad is accompanied by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi and other top officials.