Britain joins walkout after Ahmadinejad's 'anti-semitic' rant

12 April 2012

British diplomats walked out during a speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over "anti-Semitic" remarks by the Iranian leader.


'Anti-semitic': Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

A spokeswoman for the UK delegation said the walk-out was prompted by "anti-Semitic" rhetoric.

Mr Ahmadinejad condemned Israel for what he said was a "barbaric" attack on the Gaza Strip last winter.

He also accused the West of hypocrisy, saying it preached democracy, but violated its fundamental principles.

In his speech, the Iranian President accused Israel of "inhuman policies" in the Palestinian territories.

Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the US Mission to the UN, said: "It is disappointing that Mr Ahmadinejad has once again chosen to espouse hateful, offensive and anti-Semitic rhetoric."

Mr Ahmadinejad also predicted that "expansionist capitalism" will meet the same fate as Marxism, accusing unnamed powers of "using the ugliest methods of intimidation and deceit under the mantle of freedom".

His address only made passing reference to the nuclear issue with a call for global nuclear disarmament.

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