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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Anger at Iranian Holocaust denial | Anger at Iranian Holocaust denial |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Iranian president's latest denial of the Nazi Holocaust has drawn strong condemnation from Western powers. | The Iranian president's latest denial of the Nazi Holocaust has drawn strong condemnation from Western powers. |
| Speaking in the capital, Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Holocaust was a "a lie based on an unprovable and mythical claim". | |
| Germany said the comments were a "disgrace to his country" while the US said they would "isolate Iran further". | Germany said the comments were a "disgrace to his country" while the US said they would "isolate Iran further". |
| Mr Ahmadinejad made the remarks at an annual rally where opposition supporters clashed with police. | Mr Ahmadinejad made the remarks at an annual rally where opposition supporters clashed with police. |
| Reformists, who have been banned from holding demonstrations since disputed presidential elections in June, defied warnings not to use the pro-Palestinian Quds (Jerusalem) Day marches to stage protests. | Reformists, who have been banned from holding demonstrations since disputed presidential elections in June, defied warnings not to use the pro-Palestinian Quds (Jerusalem) Day marches to stage protests. |
| 'Unacceptable and shocking' | 'Unacceptable and shocking' |
| As part of the Quds Day events, President Ahmadinejad delivered a speech in which he repeated previous assertions that the Holocaust was a lie. | As part of the Quds Day events, President Ahmadinejad delivered a speech in which he repeated previous assertions that the Holocaust was a lie. |
| Promoting those vicious lies serves only to isolate Iran further from the world Robert GibbsWhite House press secretary Clashes show unresolved Iran crisis Iran eyewitness: Protest videos In pictures: Tehran rallies | Promoting those vicious lies serves only to isolate Iran further from the world Robert GibbsWhite House press secretary Clashes show unresolved Iran crisis Iran eyewitness: Protest videos In pictures: Tehran rallies |
| "The pretext [the Holocaust] for the creation of the Zionist regime [Israel] is false," he told worshippers at Tehran university. | "The pretext [the Holocaust] for the creation of the Zionist regime [Israel] is false," he told worshippers at Tehran university. |
| "It is a lie based on an unproveable and mythical claim." | "It is a lie based on an unproveable and mythical claim." |
| In reaction, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs cited President Barack Obama's assertion in a speech to the Muslim world that "denying the Holocaust is baseless, ignorant and hateful". | In reaction, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs cited President Barack Obama's assertion in a speech to the Muslim world that "denying the Holocaust is baseless, ignorant and hateful". |
| "Promoting those vicious lies serves only to isolate Iran further from the world," Mr Gibbs said. | "Promoting those vicious lies serves only to isolate Iran further from the world," Mr Gibbs said. |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "This sheer anti-Semitism demands our collective condemnation. | German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "This sheer anti-Semitism demands our collective condemnation. |
| "We will continue to confront it decisively in the future." | "We will continue to confront it decisively in the future." |
| A French foreign ministry spokesman called the remarks "unacceptable and shocking", while British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the denial was "abhorrent as well as ignorant". | A French foreign ministry spokesman called the remarks "unacceptable and shocking", while British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the denial was "abhorrent as well as ignorant". |
| "It is very important that the world community stands up against this tide of abuse," Mr Miliband said. | "It is very important that the world community stands up against this tide of abuse," Mr Miliband said. |
| Reformists attacked | Reformists attacked |
| Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tehran that it also risked further isolation and economic pressure if it did not provide answers soon about its nuclear ambitions. | Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tehran that it also risked further isolation and economic pressure if it did not provide answers soon about its nuclear ambitions. |
| Western powers suspect Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons, though Iran insists its programme is purely to generate power for civilian uses. | Western powers suspect Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons, though Iran insists its programme is purely to generate power for civilian uses. |
| UN Security Council powers and Germany are due to hold talks on the programme at the UN General Assembly next week. | UN Security Council powers and Germany are due to hold talks on the programme at the UN General Assembly next week. |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington that despite Mr Ahmadinejad's Holocaust comments and Iran's disputed election, the US offer to engage diplomatically with Iran is still on the table. | The BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington that despite Mr Ahmadinejad's Holocaust comments and Iran's disputed election, the US offer to engage diplomatically with Iran is still on the table. |
| Even so, the US ambassador to the UN said there would be no meeting between Mr Obama and Mr Ahmadinejad at the UN. | Even so, the US ambassador to the UN said there would be no meeting between Mr Obama and Mr Ahmadinejad at the UN. |
| At the rally in Tehran, thousands of opposition supporters turned out, shouting slogans in support of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. | At the rally in Tehran, thousands of opposition supporters turned out, shouting slogans in support of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. |
| Reports say there were clashes between police and protesters as the march progressed, with some arrests. Stones were thrown, and police used tear gas. | Reports say there were clashes between police and protesters as the march progressed, with some arrests. Stones were thrown, and police used tear gas. |
| Iranian state-run channel Press TV showed footage of an opposition rally, with many supporters wearing green, the colour adopted by supporters of Mr Mousavi. | Iranian state-run channel Press TV showed footage of an opposition rally, with many supporters wearing green, the colour adopted by supporters of Mr Mousavi. |
| Mr Mousavi was forced to leave the rally after his car was attacked, the official Irna news agency reported, while former President Mohammad Khatami - also a reformist - was reportedly pushed to the ground and had his turban knocked off, before police intervened. | Mr Mousavi was forced to leave the rally after his car was attacked, the official Irna news agency reported, while former President Mohammad Khatami - also a reformist - was reportedly pushed to the ground and had his turban knocked off, before police intervened. |