Iranian Leader Greeted By Angry US Demonstrators

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been greeted by hoards of demonstrators in the US as the Iranian president prepares to make a controversial appearance at one of the countries top universities.

President Ahmadinejad will speak at Columbia University later today and has told American television that his country is neither building a nuclear weapon nor planning to go to war.

His visit to the US has infuriated many politicians, religious groups and other organisations. Many people are angry with his call to “wipe Israel off the map” and have accused him of backing terrorists in Iraq across the Middle East.

Dov Hikind, New York state Assemblyman has said that Mr Ahmadinejad “should be arrested when he comes to Columbia University, not invited to speak, for God’s sake”.

Lee Bollinger, Columbia’s president, has promised he will grill the Iranian president on topics such as human rights, the Holocaust and nuclear weapons.

The US and its allies have claimed Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons and helping Shi’ite militias in Iraq that target US troops. Iran denies these claims.

Talking to CBS, Ahmadinejad said “You have to appreciate we don’t need a nuclear bomb. We don’t need that. What need do we have for a bomb? In political relations right now, the nuclear bomb is of no use. If it was useful it would have prevented the downfall of the Soviet Union.”

He went on to say, “It’s wrong to think that Iran and the US are walking toward war. Who says so? Why should we go to war? There is no war in the offing.”

Last week Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had requested to lay a wreath at the site of the World Trade Centre. It was denied by officials how couldn’t guarantee his safety.

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