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Ahmadinejad challenges Bush to TV debate

America , Britain abusing their privileged positions, says Iranian President

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday offered his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush a live television debate as he shrugged off the threat of sanctions ahead of a looming U.N. deadline for Iran to halt sensitive atomic work.

``I suggest we talk with Mr. Bush, the President of the United States, in a live television debate about world issues and ways out of these standoffs. We would voice our opinions and they would too,'' he told a news conference.

The debate ``should be uncensored, above all for the American public,'' said Mr. Ahmadinejad. Mr. Ahmadinejad, who last year caused outrage when he described Israel as a tumour that should be ``wiped off the map'', said he wanted the root of tensions in West Asia to be ``removed''.

``Our position on the Middle East is clear. We want the root of tensions to be removed. During these 60 years what was the root of massacres, crimes and conflicts?'' Mr. Ahmadinejad asked, referring to the creation of Israel in 1948.

``The solution is clear and nothing has changed,'' he said.

The U.S. and Britain are abusing the privileged positions they hold in the international order set up after World War II, he said. ``We think the special privileges that America and Britain are taking advantage of today are the origin of all disturbances in the world,'' he said, adding that they were abusing their roles as permanent members of the Security Council.

Reacting to Mr. Ahmadinejad's offer to hold a televised debate, the White House on Tuesday rejected the suggestion outright.

"Talk of a debate is just a diversion from the legitimate concerns that the international community, not just the U.S., has about Iran's behaviour, from support to terrorism to pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability," a senior White House administration official said. — AP, Agencies

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