Supreme leader at Eid prayers, slams US role in MidEast peace talks

          
Iran's top leader lashed out at the Unites States on Friday, saying America is not a good mediator in Middle East peace talks because it allegedly sides with Israel. 
         
The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei come ahead of the second round of US-brokered Mideast peace talks next week.                

The talks are set to resume after a five-year freeze.           

"(The talks) will definitely lead to no results other than the result of the previous talks, namely Palestinians backing off from their rights, encouraging the violator to commit more violations and a crackdown on the righteous campaign of the Palestinian people," Khamenei told the worshippers.               

One of the main hurdles of the upcoming Mideast talks will be defining the borders of an eventual Palestinian state.           

The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem - lands Israel captured in 1967.              

However, Israeli settlements long have been a contentious issue between the two sides.               

Since 1967, Israel has built dozens of settlements on war-won land - deemed illegal by most of the international community. Some 560-thousand Israelis live in settlements.                 

Khamenei also said he was "concerned" about the growing tension and violence in Egypt after President Mohammed Morsi was deposed.            

More than 250 people have been killed nationwide in political violence since Morsi's removal last month.             

"Every day the outbreak of civil war is becoming more likely, with the actions being done. This is a catastrophe," Khamenei said.                

Thousands, including senior Iranian officials, attended the service marking the start in Iran of the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.                  

AP