Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday expressed disappointment at intense public infighting between senior officials, calling for "calm" amid Western economic sanctions. On February 3, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and parliament speaker Ali Larijani indulged in a verbal duel in the assembly during the impeachment of a minister which was broadcast live by state media. "This is bad. This is wrong and against the law and sharia (Islamic law) and morals, and violates the rights of people," said Khamenei in remarks reported by state television on Saturday.

Venezuela congratulated Iran Monday on the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the country's last shah, and reaffirmed its close ties with Tehran. A foreign ministry statement underscored Venezuela's "commitment" with the government of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad "to continue working together to build a multipolar world with no hegemony of any kind."

(Refiles to give Khamenei's full name in paragraph 1) DUBAI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered officials to stop feuding, Iranian media reported on Thursday, days after a bitter battle between two of the country's most powerful politicians erupted in public. The rift between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani has intensified in recent weeks despite repeated calls from Khamenei for unity before a presidential election in June.

Iran's foreign ministry on Wednesday downplayed an incident in Cairo in which a protester tried to throw a shoe at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying it did not indicate Egypt's official stance towards Tehran. "What is important to us is the behaviour of Egyptian officials and the nation, who respect the Islamic republic as a major power," the ISNA news agency quoted ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast as saying.