Iran's Ahmadinejad defends his policies in TV debate

TEHRAN, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday defended his government's foreign and domestic policies in a TV debate with presidential hopeful -- former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

"During this four years, great dignity has been established in both outside and inside Iran," Ahamdinejad said at the beginning of the debate broadcasted live by the state-run television.

"The Iranian nation has made itself an adorable image in the international community," he said.

Ahmadinejad has been criticized by reformists and some conservatives for the country's soaring inflation and social problems such as high unemployment rate and housing shortage.

He has also been confronted with sharp criticism towards his hardline approaches which resulted in Iran's gloomy image.

"The social problems are not formed in just four years," he said, adding that unemployment and economic problems are not new issues in his government.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attends a TV debate between  him and Iran's presidential hopeful -- former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein  Mousavi in Tehran, Iran, June 3, 2009.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)