Ahmadinejad Meets Fellow Muslim Leaders At D-8 Summit In Nigeria

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad flashes a victory sign during the D-8 summit in Abuja on July 8.

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has met fellow leaders of seven predominantly Muslim countries at a one-day summit in Nigeria of the so-called D-8 group.

The eight leaders are in the Nigerian capital of Abuja for the seventh summit of the Developing 8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, at which they are discussing ways to improve economic and trade links.

The Istanbul-based D-8 groups Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey, with a combined population of 930 million people.

Speaking to an audience of hundreds at the Iranian Embassy after his arrival in the West African country on July 7, Ahmadinejad called the United States a "dictatorship" trying to control global affairs.

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul is also in Abuja for the summit.

compiled from agency reports