Iran's new president:Scrap all WMDs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-04 06:01

Ahmadinejad embodies the values of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

He is considered a representative of the country's ultra-conservatives and a close disciple of Khamenei.

Ahmadinejad was born into a blacksmith's family in 1956 in a countryside to the southeast of Teheran.

At 19, he began his studies at Teheran Industry and Technology University. After earning his undergraduate degree, he twice returned to the University and was awarded a PhD in transportation engineering in 1997.

He began his political career as consultant to the mayor of the southwestern city Shahr Kord after completing his undergraduate studies in the late 1970s.

During the 1980-88 war against Iraq, Ahmadinejad spent several years in the armed forces. He categorically denies claims that he used to work as a secret agent during this period of time.

Ahmadinejad was later appointed mayor of the northwestern city of Maku bordering Turkey. In the late 1990s, he became governor of the northwestern province of Ardabil, a post that won him the honour of "model governor" for three consecutive years.