Israeli president calls on world to unite against Iran

PARIS (AFP) - Israeli President Shimon Peres called on the world in an interview Tuesday to form a united front against Iran that would force the Islamic republic to end its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"Iran only has power when the world is divided," Peres told France's Le Figaro daily, referring to the stalemate over Iran's nuclear programme.

"If Iran is confronted by a united front, it will change" its policy on the nuclear issue, the veteran statesman added.

Peres noted that four countries -- Ukraine, Libya, South Africa and North Korea -- had already given up nuclear weapons under pressure from the international community.

In the interview Peres also praised Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after his party, which sprung from Islamist roots, won a landslide election victory Sunday.

Erdogan "has promised he will continue the same policies, which led to excellent relations between Israel and Turkey, an open and progressive country," Peres said.

On the thorny issue of relations with the Palestinians, Peres said that "economics is the new creed", adding: "We have no need for colonisation."

"I propose to the Palestinians to try first to improve relations, and in parallel, to engage in negotiations," added the Nobel peace prize winner.