Italy premier: Iran must not get weapons
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi gestures at an observatory point as he over looks the Gaza Strip during a visit to the southern Israeli town of Sderot , Monday, July 9, 2007. Prodi arrived on Sunday for a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
July 9, 2007

JERUSALEM --Italian Premier Romano Prodi said Monday that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons and called on Gaza's Hamas rulers to release a captured Israeli soldier.

Prodi was on a three-day trip to Israel and the West Bank to discuss ways to promote Mideast peacemaking. At a news conference, he joined Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in speaking of the need to block Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

"We can never accept a country sworn to Israel's destruction becoming a nuclear power," Olmert said.

"We agree without reservation ... Iran must not develop a military nuclear capability," said Prodi.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction. The Islamic country says its nuclear program is intended to produce energy, not weapons, as Israel and the West fear.

Prodi also demanded immediate freedom for Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was seized more than a year ago by three groups linked to Hamas. An audiotape that Hamas issued on the June 25 anniversary of his capture has been the only sign of life from him since.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/07/09/italy_premier_iran_must_not_get_weapons/