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Iranian President says call to destroy Israel is "just"

Atul Aneja

Ahmadinejad dismisses world reaction; leads Teheran protesters against Israel

DUBAI: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday defended his controversial remarks calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map," saying his remark was "right and just".

Participating in an anti-Israel rally in Teheran, the President signalled that he stood by his statement. Responding to the sharp reaction to his remarks, by Israel and Western nations, he said, "They are free to say but their words lack any credit."

Crowds in the rally, marking Al Qods (Jerusalem) day, observed on the last Friday of the month of Ramzan, carried placards bearing slogans such as "Israel should be wiped off the map". Others shouted slogans, "Death to Israel, death to the Zionists." Joining the demonstrators, Mr. Ahmadinejad, as quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said: "My words were the Iranian nation's words."

Iranian officials have earlier said that the outcry against Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement was meant to pressurise Iran to compromise on its nuclear programme.

Remark downplayed

However, in Moscow, the Iranian embassy in a statement sought to downplay Mr. Ahmadinejad's observation.

"Mr. Ahmadinejad did not have any intention to speak up in such sharp terms and enter into a conflict," the embassy said in a statement. "It's absolutely clear that, in his remarks, Mr. Ahmadinejad underlined the key position of Iran, based on the necessity to hold free elections on the occupied territories."

Meanwhile, some of Israel's neighbours and Turkey have sought to distance themselves from the Iranian President's statement. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said, "Palestinians recognise the right of the state of Israel to exist and I reject his comments." He added, "What we need to be talking about is adding the state of Palestine to the map and not wiping Israel from the map." Egypt also has said that it disagreed with Mr. Ahmadinejad's line. Turkey's Prime Minster advised the Iranian President "to display political moderation."

There has been no let-up in the Israeli diplomatic offensive against Iran. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Israel would seek an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Country-wide protests

AP, AFP report:

Mr. Ahmadinejad dismissed international condemnation of his call, saying his remark was ``right and just''.

Millions of Iranians staged protests across the country against the Jewish state on Friday, marking the annual Israel hate fest.

Marching alongside protesters in downtown Teheran, Mr. Ahmadinejad renewed his criticism of the West, saying: ``They become upset when they hear any voice of truth-seeking.''

Over 200,000 Iranians took to the streets of Teheran for ``Jerusalem Day'' — a carnival-style event heavy on bloodthirsty slogans, flag burning and a chance for would-be militants to register for suicide bombing missions.

``Israel must be destroyed'' and ``Israel must be wiped off the map'' said many banners held above thronging crowds which packed streets throughout the capital, a gesture of open support for Mr. Ahmadinejad's controversial comment.

``They are free to talk but their words do not have any validity. It is natural that if a word is right and just it will provoke a reaction,'' Mr. Ahmadinejad said.

He went on to criticise ``international Zionism and the expansionist policies of the world arrogance'' — terminology usually used to refer to the United States and Israel.

His comments have been hugely damaging for Iran, already under intense Western pressure over its nuclear energy programme.

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