Better known for his defiance on Iran's nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday revealed he was a handy cook who prepares "delicious" food and regrets not spending more time at home.
In a television interview aimed at showing his personal side, Ahmadinejad made no mention of Iran's disputes with the West and instead portrayed himself as a hardworking husband who only leaves his job in the small hours.
"Before (I became president) I used to do the grocery shopping. Now sometimes I help in the kitchen and I know how to make all the Iranian food," Ahmadinejad said.
Pressed by the interviewer for more details, Ahmadinejad continued in typically defiant fashion.
"Of course what I make is delicious -- ask everyone who has eaten it! I can make all the different kinds of soups and Iranian stews," said the president.
Ahmadinejad, who has long boasted of his ability to work hard, said he is often at his desk by 5:30 am and sometimes does not leave until after midnight.
"I used to visit my relatives more but now I do so less. I see them when they are all in one place, but I regularly visit my mother and when I visit her the rest come to see me."
While sparking international controversy for comments predicting that Israel is doomed to disappear, Ahmadinejad has also sought to cultivate an image as a simple peace-loving man who offers friendship to everyone.
But like almost all Iranian politicians, Ahmadinejad's private life remains a closely guarded secret, and his wife, two sons and daughter are rarely seen in public.(Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.)
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