AJC Applauds Nations for Walking Out on Ahmadinejad

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Sep 22, 2011, 06:39 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC applauds the leaders of those democratic nations who walked out on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as he delivered his typical tirade at the UN General Assembly.

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"Once again, many democratic countries refused to honor by their presence the vile rhetoric of a president who, in the words of the German delegation, unleashed 'a crude, anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-West tirade,'" said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

Ahmadinejad's address also called for Islamic rule over the whole world, saying that "a promising future for humanity" will begin when all peoples fall "under the leadership of Imam al-Mahdi" - the prophesized savior of Islam.

Speaking shortly after the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Ahmadinejad also accused Americans of burying "the hidden elements" of "the mysterious September 11 incident" and criticized the U.S. for killing Osama bin Laden.

"Ten days after Americans and many other people around the world mourned the victims of 9/11 and prayed for their families, Ahmadinejad tried to use our grief for his malignant agenda," Harris said. "He wanted to disturb our wounds, speaking in a city that even 10 years after those horrifying terrorist attacks still feels the pain."

Delegates from over 30 democratic nations - including the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all the EU member states - walked out during the speech.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee