Ban deplores Ahmadinejad comment on Israel

United Nations, June 8: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed shock and dismay at comments this week by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad forecasting the destruction of Israel, his office said.

Ahmadinejad said on Sunday the Lebanese and Palestinians had pressed a ''countdown button'' to bring an end to Israel. ''By God's will, we will witness the destruction of this regime in the near future,'' he said in a speech.

A UN statement yesterday said Ban ''was shocked and dismayed at the remarks attacking Israel attributed to (Ahmadinejad), in which he says repeatedly that the world could witness the 'destruction of the Zionist regime' soon.'' Ban, currently in Germany for the Group of Eight summit, ''points out that the State of Israel is a full and long-standing member of the United Nations with the same rights and obligations as every other member,'' it said.

''He reminds that under the United Nations Charter, all members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.'' Ahmadinejad triggered outrage in the West two years ago when he said Israel should be ''wiped off the map.'' He has often referred to the destruction of the Jewish state but says Iran is not a threat.

Reuters>