I would like to take this opportunity to state that my prediction of Ahmadinejad's statement on Israel going into oblivion was wrong. Unfortunately.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defied worldwide outrage at his call for the destruction of Israel, by joining a demonstration in Tehran and restating his desire to see Israel "wiped from the map".
The populist firebrand sparked a crisis in Iran's foreign relations on Tuesday when he told a Tehran conference that Israel should be "wiped out" in a new wave of Palestinian attacks.
Yesterday, he was on the streets of the capital with demonstrators waving placards calling for the "death of America". He said: "My words are the Iranian nation's words. Westerners are free to comment but their reactions are invalid."
The diplomatic storm comes at a dangerous time for Iran, with the US pushing for Tehran to be taken to the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme.
"Ahmadinejad speaks for all Iranians. We are ready to die for Palestine," said Mohammed Mirzayi, 25, at the demonstration.
The UN Security Council yesterday condemned the original comments and said all UN members should refrain from threatening or using force against another country. But the condemnation, endorsed by all 15 council members, was delivered in the form of a press statement rather than at a formal council meeting, which would give it more weight. Algeria, the only Arab council member, objected to the meeting approach....
news.independent.co.uk |
