Iran aims to soothe world fury at Israel remarks

Iran has attempted to defuse international anger towards its President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad after he said Israel should be "wiped off the map".

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the comments, saying they "dismayed" him.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern denounced the comments, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair hinted that action may be taken against Iran.

But the Iranian embassy in Moscow says Mahmoud Ahmedinejad did not mean to speak in "such sharp terms".

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Iranians have started anti-Israel protests across the country and repeated calls by their ultraconservative president demanding the Jewish state’s destruction.

Iranians staged multiple protests throughout the capital, Tehran, and in other cities including Mashad in Iran’s east, holding banners and placards carrying anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian slogans.

Iran’s seven state-run TV stations devoted coverage to programs condemning the Jewish state.

The demonstrations are being held as part of annual al-Quds – Jerusalem – Day protests, which were first held in 1979 after Shiite Muslim clerics took power in Iran.