Ahmadinejad reveals feelings on homosexuality, bin Laden's death and the Holocaust in contentious interview... after Israelis walk out in disgust as he taunts them by flashing a peace sign at UN
President questions events of the Holocaust, and skirts questions on homosexuality and his comments about 'wiping Israel off the map'
Says Osama bin Laden should have received a transparent trial


In true Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fashion, the Iranian president dodged and danced around questions relating to Israel, homosexuality and the Holocaust during an interview coinciding with his visit to the UN General Assembly.


Tough talk: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned the anti-Muslim film that has sparked outrage across the Muslim world, and questioned the events of the Holocaust in a contentious CNN interview
He spoke to CNN’s Piers Morgan in an extensive meeting that got heated at times, with the Iranian leader calling homosexuality 'ugly.'
Morgan twice involved Ahmadinejad’s children in his questions, asking him what he would do if one of them was gay - and asking how he would feel if one of them were dating a Jew.
On the topic of homosexuality, Ahmadinejad answered Morgan's questions with more questions, saying: 'Do you believe that anyone has given birth through homosexuality? Homosexuality ceases procreation.
'Who has said that if you like or believe in doing something ugly, and others do not accept your behaviour, they're denying your freedom? Who says that? Perhaps in a country they wish to legitimise stealing.'


Iran's government accused of controlling internet access as it prepares to switch citizens' networks to 'improve security'
Ahmadinejad saved the most tense criticism for Israel, whom he accused of 'occupying' and imposing wars while addressing his famous quote that Israel should be 'wiped off the map.'
'When we say 'to be wiped,' we say for occupation to be wiped off from this world. For war-seeking to [be] wiped off and eradicated, the killing of women and children to be eradicated.'
'What does this have to do with the occupation of Palestine?... If a historical event had indeed taken place," he began, before Morgan cut him off and moved him along to the next topic.
Ahmadinejad also questioned the events of the Holocaust, telling Morgan: 'Your assumption is this event took place. Where did it take place? Who were the individuals responsible for this event?

Sit-down: Morgan twice involved Ahmadinejad¿s children in his questions, asking him what he would do if one of them was gay - and asking how he would feel if one of them were dating a Jew
He told Morgan that terror leader Osama bin Laden should have been given a transparent trial, not death by the Navy SEAL raid authorised by President Obama.
When asked about the series of protests sparked by the film in the Muslim world, Ahmadinejad called the protests ‘ugly,’ but slammed the video itself as an 'abuse of freedom.'
He told Morgan: 'Fundamentally, first of all, any action that is provocative, offends the religious thoughts and feelings of any people, we condemn.'
Ahmadinejad added: 'Likewise, we condemn any type of extremism. Of course, what took place was ugly. Offending the Holy Prophet is quite ugly. This has very little or nothing to do with freedom and freedom of speech.
'This is the weakness of and the abuse of freedom, and in many places it is a crime. It shouldn't take place and I do hope the day will come in which politicians will not seek to offend those whom others hold holy,' said Ahmadinejad.
But Ahmadinejad's fiery remarks did not end with the CNN interview.

Sign of the times? Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures as he attends the high level meeting on rule of law in the United Nations General Assembly
On Monday afternoon, the Israeli delegation to the annual UN General Assembly rose from their seats and walked out as Iranian Ahmadinejad began his speech by saying that the country had 'no roots' in the Middle East and would be 'eliminated.'
Flashing the peace sign on several occasions, Ahmadinejad refused to speak of the state of Israel by name and instead referred only to the 'Zionists'.
He told the UN conference in New York that Iran is unconcerned by Israeli threats of attack but prepared to defend itself.
Ahmadinejad also said that it was not too late for dialogue with the United States to resolve differences.

Defiance: Israeli delegates walk out of the United Nations General Assembly as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad approaches the podium to speak at the high level meeting
Meanwhile angry protests were taking place outside the Warwick Hotel at West 54th Street in Manhattan over its decision to allow Ahmadinejad to stay during his visit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted Israel could strike Iran's nuclear sites and has criticized President Obama's position that sanctions and diplomacy should be given more time to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran denies that it is seeking nuclear arms and says its atomic work is peaceful, aimed at generating electricity.
'Fundamentally we do not take seriously the threats of the Zionists. ... We have all the defensive means at our disposal and we are ready to defend ourselves,' Ahmadinejad told reporters.
'While we are fully ready to defend ourselves, we do not take such threats seriously,' he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Anger on the streets: Demonstrators participate in a rally against the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad near the Warwick New York Hotel where the controversial leader is staying at while in New York

Controversial guest: Posters denouncing the Warwick Hotel in Manhattan for hosting Iranian President Ahmadinejad
He also said that Iran is neutral in the Syrian civil war, and denied that Tehran is providing weapons or training to the government of President Bashar Assad.
Ahmadinejad said: 'We like and love both sides, and we see both sides as brothers.'
He referred to the conflict in Syria as 'tribal' fighting and said that international 'meddling from the outside has made the situation even harder'.
It was Ahmadinejad's eighth visit to the UN gathering held each September, which he cited as proof that he is open to understanding other countries' views.
In spite of his assertions on the importance of dialogue and respect for others, Ahmadinejad presented a hard line in many areas.

Outrage: Osborn Holmstrand, 73, of Sweden, protests outside the Warwick Hotel where the Iranian president is staying while at the UN

Protection: Police barricades surround the Warwick Hotel which has been the site of angry protests because of their decision to allow Ahmadinejad to stay
He refused to speak of the state of Israel by name and instead referred only to the 'Zionists,' and when asked about author Salman Rushdie he made no attempt to distance himself from recent renewed threats on the author's life emanating from an Iranian semi-official religious foundation.
He said: 'If he is in the U.S., you should not broadcast it for his own safety.'
Rushdie, an Indian-born British novelist who has nothing to do with the video, was condemned to death in 1989 by Khomeini, Iran's late leader, over his novel The Satanic Verses, saying its depiction of the Prophet Mohammad was blasphemous.
Ahmadinejad said this would be his last trip to New York as president of Iran, because his term is ending and he is barred from seeking a third consecutive term.
But he did not rule out staying active in Iranian politics and said he might return as part of future Iranian delegations to New York.

Global meeting: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses diplomats during the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the United Nations headquarters in New York


Security: Flanked by a guard, Ahmadinejad speaks to the UN where he said Iran's nuclear program was peaceful

Pleasantries: Ahmadinejad meets Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who warned him against incendiary rhetoric over the Middle East
Ahmadinejad alluded to his previous rejection of Israel's right to exist. 'Iran has been around for the last seven, 10 thousand years. They (the Israelis) have been occupying those territories for the last 60 to 70 years, with the support and force of the Westerners. They have no roots there in history,' he said.
The modern state of Israel was founded in 1948.
'We do believe that they have found themselves at a dead end and they are seeking new adventures in order to escape this dead end. Iran will not be damaged with foreign bombs,' Ahmadinejad said, referring to Israel.
'We don't even count them as any part of any equation for Iran. During a historical phase, they represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated,' Ahmadinejad added.
In 2005, Ahmadinejad called Israel a 'tumor' and echoed the words of the former Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, by saying that Israel should be wiped off the map.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a brigadier general in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was quoted on Sunday as saying that Iran could launch a pre-emptive strike on Israel if it was sure the Jewish state was preparing to attack it.
Hajizadeh said any attack on Iranian soil could trigger 'World War III'.
Ahmadinejad said the nuclear issue was one ultimately between the United States and Iran, and must be resolved with negotiations.
'The nuclear issue is not a problem. But the approach of the United States on Iran is important. We are ready for dialogue, for a fundamental resolution of the problems, but under conditions that are based on fairness and mutual respect,' he said.
'We are not expecting a 33-year-old problem between the United States and Iran to be resolved in a speedy fashion. But there is no other way besides dialogue.'
Iran has held several rounds of talks this year on its nuclear issue with six world powers.
The six are the permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - as well as Germany.
The six powers are represented by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Protest: New York Council Speaker Christine Quinn speaks at the Iran180 press conference outside the UN Headquarters in New York to denounce the country's nuclear program

Ring of steel: New York Police officers gather near United Nations headquarters today as more than 120 heads of state meet this week for the 61st session of the UN General Assembly
Ahmadinejad also addressed the issue of a California-made anti-Islam video, The Innocence of Muslims, that has sparked anti-American protests around the Muslim world.
He appeared to reject Washington's position that while it condemns the video's content, freedom of expression must be upheld.
'Freedoms must not interfere with the freedoms of others,' Ahmadinejad said. 'If someone insults, what would you do? ... Is insulting other people not a form of crime?'
Since the controversy over the video erupted this month, some Muslim leaders have reiterated calls for a UN measure outlawing insults to Islam and blasphemy in general.