Iran president slammed for Israel remarks

Updated: 10:54, Friday, 9 December 2005

The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been criticised for suggesting that Israel should be moved to Europe.

1 of 2 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Remarks criticised
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Remarks criticised 

The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been criticised for suggesting that Israel should be moved to Europe.

Speaking on the Iranian state television channel al-Alam yesterday, Mr Ahmadinejad expressed doubt that the Holocaust happened and described Israel as a 'tumour'.

He said if countries such as Germany and Austria had killed Jews and felt guilty, they should give up some of their own territory and move Israel there.

At the UN in New York, Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed shock at the comments attributed to Mr Ahmadinejad.

Mr Annan cancelled a trip to Tehran last month because of Mr Ahmadinejad's call during October to 'wipe Israel off the map'.

A US State Department official said the comments were 'appalling and reprehensible'.

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