His reference to unhappy Iranians as `` dirt '' or `` dust '' was seen by many as particularly galling , and he offered a qualified apology on Thursday . Ahmadinejad 's comparison of election losers to soccer fans unleashed wave of fury . `` I was addressing those who started riots and set up fires , '' he says in broadcast . TL;DR Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments about the results of Iran's presidential elections have sparked a backlash from opposition leaders. Key conservatives have complained of Ahmadinejad 's treatment of protesters .
Ahmadinejad 's comparison of election losers to soccer fans unleashed wave of fury . `` I was addressing those who started riots and set up fires , '' he says in broadcast . TL;DR Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments about the results of Iran's presidential elections have sparked a backlash from opposition leaders. Key conservatives have complained of Ahmadinejad 's treatment of protesters .