Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has proposed the establishment of a big front of peace and justice by the Non-Aligned Movement.

"Establishment of a big front of peace and justice by the NAM countries will constitute a major step toward promotion of peace and prevention of further disputes in the world. NAM has the potential to become the pioneer of peace and justice in the world," Ahmadinejad said.

He made the statement at the inaugural ceremony of the 15th Foreign Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran on Tuesday.

He added that NAM countries could use the political and economic means available to them to hinder aggression by big powers as well as fighting against discrimination and injustice.

He proposed a joint monetary fund be founded with the aim of boosting economic development of NAM members.

Ahmadinejad said that an increase in the price of oil and gas was a function of politically-motivated actions of certain powers, with harmful effects on world's poor countries.

The spread of communicable diseases like AIDS is the outcome of poverty and lack of hygiene and education, he said, adding, "If we are serious about finding the root causes of such scourges, we must first of all admit that they are the result of the economic framework devised by the big powers and the inefficiency of the political and economic systems currently dominating the world."

Big powers are nearing the end of their era of supremacy, Ahmadinejad said.

Pointing to a rise in the production of illicit drugs over the past few years, he stated, "It is worth noting that the increase is happening in areas where big powers and their allies have a military presence."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian president condemned the verdict issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, saying that instead of taking a position aimed at defending the rights of nations, the ICC made a decision that was in line with the demands of certain big powers.

The ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, recently leveled accusations of 'genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes' against al-Bashir and called for his apprehension.

SF/GM/BGH