One million Iranians in anti-Israel marches

IRAN’S hardline president marched in the streets of Tehran yesterday alongside tens of thousands of people supporting his call for the destruction of Israel — remarks that have been condemned around the world.

The rally was one of several state-organised anti-Israel demonstrations across the country that drew more than a million Iranians.

World leaders have condemned Wednesday's remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeated the words of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic revolution, by saying: "Israel must be wiped off the map".

As he marched alongside demonstrators in downtown Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad renewed his criticism of the West, saying: "They become upset when they hear any voice of truth-seeking. They think they are the absolute rulers of the world."

Many marching with him held placards reading 'death to Israel, death to America'.

Iran's influential former president, Hashemi Rafsanjani, also tried to soothe tensions, suggesting in his Friday prayer sermon that Israelis and Palestinians decide the future of their conflict in a referendum.

The state-organised demonstrations are part of the annual al-Quds Day or Jerusalem Day protests, which were first held in 1979 after Shi'ite Muslim clerics took power in Iran. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have attended previous rallies.

At least 200,000 people rallied in Tehran, some chanting "Israel is approaching its death" and wearing white shrouds symbolising their readiness to die for their cause. Others carried banners reading,

'Israel must be destroyed'.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the president's comments represented Iran's long-held policy of not recognising Israel.

Iran's seven state-run TV stations devoted coverage yesterday to programmes condemning the Jewish state and praising the Palestinian resistance since the 1948 creation of Israel.

The demonstrations attracted at least 100,000 people in all of Iran's major cities, while major rallies were held in other Middle Eastern countries.

Tens of thousands of Lebanese joined a demonstration in southern Beirut organised by the powerful Shi'ite group, Hezbollah.

At least 30,000 people marched in Bahrain, burning Israeli and American flags and demanding their government rescind a recent decision to end its economic embargo of the Jewish state.

Countries from Britain to Russia denounced Ahmadinejad's comments. The United States said the

Iranian leader's hostility underscored Washington's concern over Iran's nuclear programme. Israel said Iran should be suspended from the United Nations.

UN chief Kofi Annan expressed "dismay" in a rare rebuke of a UN member state. Even Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat criticised the comments.