Mr Larijani, another rival of Mr Ahmadinejad, called the response ugly and vindictive, the conservative Iranian news agency Mehr reported.

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"Because the ANC is so dominant (in South Africa), it sends the message to people that if they want power, they can gain it through intrigue and if they succeed they will, of course, try to retain it through intrigue, " Mr Matshiqi says, lamenting the ugly nature of the Zuma-Mbeki battle.

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But many Peruvians fear that Mr Costa's departure sets an ugly precedent.

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