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Iranian leader 'not anti-Semite' | Iranian leader 'not anti-Semite' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he is not an anti-Semite. | Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he is not an anti-Semite. |
"Jews are respected by everyone, by all human beings," he told a news conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York. | "Jews are respected by everyone, by all human beings," he told a news conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York. |
The remarks come months after Mr Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off the map - and described the Holocaust as "myth". | The remarks come months after Mr Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off the map - and described the Holocaust as "myth". |
In response to questions about Iran's controversial nuclear programme, he said the Iranians "do not need a bomb". | In response to questions about Iran's controversial nuclear programme, he said the Iranians "do not need a bomb". |
The Iranian president's comments on anti-Semitism came during remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | |
"Some people think if they accuse me of being anti-Jew they can solve the problem. | |
"No, I am not anti-Jew," he said. "I respect them very much." | |
"Let us remember that there in Palestine there are Muslims, Christians and Jews who live together," he said. | |
Later, he added: "We love everyone in the world - Jews, Christians, Muslims, non-Muslims, non-Jews, non-Christians... We are against occupation, aggression, killings and displacing people - otherwise we have no problem with ordinary people." | |
'Nuclear talks' | |
The Iranian president said he was "at a loss" in understanding what further guarantees Iran needed to provide to prove its nuclear programme was, as it claims, entirely for civilian purposes. | The Iranian president said he was "at a loss" in understanding what further guarantees Iran needed to provide to prove its nuclear programme was, as it claims, entirely for civilian purposes. |
Iran has failed to meet a UN deadline to suspend the enrichment of uranium. | |
However, Mr Ahmadinejad said talks with the EU on the issue were "on the right path". | However, Mr Ahmadinejad said talks with the EU on the issue were "on the right path". |
"Hopefully others will not disrupt the work," he said | "Hopefully others will not disrupt the work," he said |
He said Iran was willing to negotiate on suspending uranium enrichment "under fair and just conditions", but gave no timetable. | He said Iran was willing to negotiate on suspending uranium enrichment "under fair and just conditions", but gave no timetable. |
Mr Ahmadinejad also accused the US of double standards, asking what it had done to destroy its own nuclear weapons and accusing it of developing new ones. | |
'Old system' | 'Old system' |
In comments taking in issues ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Hurricane Katrina, the Iranian president was also critical of the international political system. | In comments taking in issues ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Hurricane Katrina, the Iranian president was also critical of the international political system. |
He said the current system emanated from a "group of victors who emerged from a world war and are ruling the world". | He said the current system emanated from a "group of victors who emerged from a world war and are ruling the world". |
He said that some members of the UN Security Council sat in judgement of other countries, despite the fact that they were parties to some of the world's conflicts. | He said that some members of the UN Security Council sat in judgement of other countries, despite the fact that they were parties to some of the world's conflicts. |
He did not specify which countries he was referring to. | He did not specify which countries he was referring to. |
In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Ahmadinejad accused the US and UK of using the UN Security Council for their own ends. | In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Ahmadinejad accused the US and UK of using the UN Security Council for their own ends. |
He accused the two of being prosecutor, judge and jury in their differences with other countries. | He accused the two of being prosecutor, judge and jury in their differences with other countries. |