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Anger at Iran leader's NY speech | Anger at Iran leader's NY speech |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to speak at New York's Columbia University, despite protests in the US. | Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to speak at New York's Columbia University, despite protests in the US. |
Many Americans say he should not have been invited to speak, with local media calling him "evil" and a "madman". | Many Americans say he should not have been invited to speak, with local media calling him "evil" and a "madman". |
The US accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb and arming insurgents in Iraq - Tehran rejects the charges. | The US accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb and arming insurgents in Iraq - Tehran rejects the charges. |
Mr Ahmadinejad has been denied a visit to Ground Zero, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying that "it would have been a travesty". | |
"This is somebody who is the president of a country that is probably the greatest sponsor - state sponsor - of terrorism," Ms Rice told CNBC television. | "This is somebody who is the president of a country that is probably the greatest sponsor - state sponsor - of terrorism," Ms Rice told CNBC television. |
The Iranian leader is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is due to speak on Tuesday. | The Iranian leader is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is due to speak on Tuesday. |
Speaking to US media, he has said that Iran is not heading for war with the US and Tehran has no need of nuclear bombs. | Speaking to US media, he has said that Iran is not heading for war with the US and Tehran has no need of nuclear bombs. |
'Evil has landed' | 'Evil has landed' |
New York tabloids - and several Jewish groups in the US - have condemned Mr Ahmadinejad's scheduled appearance at Columbia, where he is due to speak and answer questions. | New York tabloids - and several Jewish groups in the US - have condemned Mr Ahmadinejad's scheduled appearance at Columbia, where he is due to speak and answer questions. |
In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use Mahmoud Ahmadinejad | In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
The New York Daily News's front page headline on Monday read "The Evil Has Landed", while the New York Post described Mr Ahmadinejad as "Madman Iran Prez". | The New York Daily News's front page headline on Monday read "The Evil Has Landed", while the New York Post described Mr Ahmadinejad as "Madman Iran Prez". |
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the university on Sunday with placards saying: "Don't give a platform to hate," and calling the Iranian leader a "Hitler wannabe". | Dozens of protesters gathered outside the university on Sunday with placards saying: "Don't give a platform to hate," and calling the Iranian leader a "Hitler wannabe". |
Mr Ahmadinejad has called in the past for an end to the Israeli state and described the Holocaust as a "myth". | Mr Ahmadinejad has called in the past for an end to the Israeli state and described the Holocaust as a "myth". |
Columbia President Lee Bollinger on Monday defended the university's invitation, saying it was a question of free speech and academic freedom. | Columbia President Lee Bollinger on Monday defended the university's invitation, saying it was a question of free speech and academic freedom. |
"It's extremely important to know who the leaders are of countries that are your adversaries," Mr Bollinger told ABC's "Good Morning America". | "It's extremely important to know who the leaders are of countries that are your adversaries," Mr Bollinger told ABC's "Good Morning America". |
"To watch them to see how they think, to see how they reason or do not reason. To see whether they're fanatical, or to see whether they are sly," he added. | "To watch them to see how they think, to see how they reason or do not reason. To see whether they're fanatical, or to see whether they are sly," he added. |
Tickets to the event were snatched up within an hour of becoming available. | Tickets to the event were snatched up within an hour of becoming available. |