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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iran president in NY campus clash | Iran president in NY campus clash |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has clashed with the head of New York's Columbia University while making his controversial appearance at the campus. | Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has clashed with the head of New York's Columbia University while making his controversial appearance at the campus. |
| Columbia President Lee Bollinger described Mr Ahmadinejad as a "cruel dictator" who denied the Holocaust. | Columbia President Lee Bollinger described Mr Ahmadinejad as a "cruel dictator" who denied the Holocaust. |
| In response, Mr Ahmadinejad called the remarks "an insult", adding that more research was needed on the Holocaust. | In response, Mr Ahmadinejad called the remarks "an insult", adding that more research was needed on the Holocaust. |
| He again defended Tehran's nuclear ambitions and said it had every right to pursue a peaceful programme. | He again defended Tehran's nuclear ambitions and said it had every right to pursue a peaceful programme. |
| Washington accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb and arming insurgents in Iraq - Tehran rejects the charges. | Washington accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb and arming insurgents in Iraq - Tehran rejects the charges. |
| Many Americans said the Iranian leader should not have been invited to speak at Columbia University. | |
| In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country Mahmoud Ahmadinejad His appearance sparked protests in New York, with demonstrators saying it provided a platform for hate. | In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country Mahmoud Ahmadinejad His appearance sparked protests in New York, with demonstrators saying it provided a platform for hate. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad has been denied a visit to the site of the 11 September attacks in New York in 2001, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying that "it would have been a travesty". | Mr Ahmadinejad has been denied a visit to the site of the 11 September attacks in New York in 2001, 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. |
| 'Brazen' | 'Brazen' |
| Mr Ahmadinejad was invited to Columbia University to address its students at the university's World Leaders Forum. | Mr Ahmadinejad was invited to Columbia University to address its students at the university's World Leaders Forum. |
| He received a hostile welcome from Mr Bollinger, who described the Iranian leader as "a petty and cruel dictator". | He received a hostile welcome from Mr Bollinger, who described the Iranian leader as "a petty and cruel dictator". |
| "You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated," Mr Bollinger told Mr Ahmadinejad, referring to his denial of the Holocaust. | "You are either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated," Mr Bollinger told Mr Ahmadinejad, referring to his denial of the Holocaust. |
| In response, Mr Ahmadinejad said that Mr Bollinger's remarks were "an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience". | In response, Mr Ahmadinejad said that Mr Bollinger's remarks were "an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience". |
| Addressing the Holocaust issue, Mr Ahmadinejad said he simply wanted more research to be done. | Addressing the Holocaust issue, Mr Ahmadinejad said he simply wanted more research to be done. |
| He also said the issue was abused by Israel to justify what he said was its mistreatment of the Palestinians. | He also said the issue was abused by Israel to justify what he said was its mistreatment of the Palestinians. |
| "Why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price for an event they had nothing to do with?" Mr Ahmadinejad asked. | "Why is it that the Palestinian people are paying the price for an event they had nothing to do with?" Mr Ahmadinejad asked. |
| Asked about executions of homosexuals in Iran, Mr Ahmadinejad replied: "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country." | Asked about executions of homosexuals in Iran, Mr Ahmadinejad replied: "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country." |
| Reacting to laughter and jeers from the audience he added: "In Iran we don't have this phenomenon, I don't know who you told this." | Reacting to laughter and jeers from the audience he added: "In Iran we don't have this phenomenon, I don't know who you told this." |
| 'Evil has landed' | 'Evil has landed' |
| 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". |
| Mr Bollinger defended the university's invitation, saying it was a question of free speech and academic freedom. | Mr Bollinger defended the university's invitation, saying it was a question of free speech and academic freedom. |
| 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. |
| 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. |