Iran on Wednesday began a two-day international conference in support of Palestinians and called for trial of Israeli leaders for their latest attack on Gaza.

"Bring to trial the political and military heads of the usurper regime (Israel) who have had a role in bringing about the Gaza tragedy," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his speech at the conference.

"And mete out to them the punishment laid down by reason and justice," Khamenei told participants of the conference with the theme of "In Support of Palestine, the Symbol of Resistance; Gaza, the Victim of Crime."

The two-day conference started Wednesday morning with the participation of 80 delegations, which included government officials, parliamentary members, legal personalities and nongovernmental human rights activities.

The participants also include senior officials from the main Palestinian groups, such as Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad.

The Iranian supreme leader said only "resistance" can save the Palestinians.

"The creation of Palestine cannot be obtained through begging from the United Nations or the dominating powers, and more so from the usurper regime," he said.

"The sole path of its creation is through resistance and fortitude, through the unity of the Palestinians," Khamenei added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2009)