Iranian Leader Prompts Walkout at UN Racism Meeting

A speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sparked a walkout by many Western delegates at a United Nations conference on racism.

A stream of representatives from several European states left the hall in protest as the Iranian leader condemned the 1948 founding of Israel, calling it the establishment of "a most cruel, repressive and racist regime" under "the pretext of Jewish suffering."

European diplomats blasted the remarks as outrageous, anti-Semitic and an incitement to hatred. A spokesman for U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said "this speech was completely inappropriate at a conference designed to nurture diversity and tolerance."

Hecklers repeatedly interrupted the Iranian leader's remarks. Security officers dragged several protesters wearing multi-colored clown wigs out of the room. One of them, shouting "racist," hurled a soft red object at Mr. Ahmadinejad, striking the podium.

The Iranian president smiled at the interruptions but continued his speech, which drew a smattering of applause at several points, mainly from members of the Iranian delegation.

In addition to his criticism of Israel, Mr. Ahmadinejad also condemned the U.N. Security Council. He urged reforming the council to eliminate the veto power wielded by its five permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. He called the veto "discriminatory."

Nine countries, including the United States and Israel, were already boycotting the conference over fears that it would become a forum for anti-Semitism.  They also expressed concern about the meeting's call for protection of religion, saying it could be used to threaten freedom of speech.

After his remarks, Mr. Ahmadinejad told reporters he views the boycotters as arrogant and selfish.

Before the Iranian leader's speech, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his disappointment over the boycott by the U.S. and its major allies.

Israel recalled its ambassador to Switzerland Monday after the Swiss president met with Mr. Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the conference.

U.S. President Barack Obama said there was a danger that participants at the meeting will express antagonism toward Israel in ways that are, in his words, "completely hypocritical and counterproductive."

Other countries skipping the conference include the Netherlands, Poland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and New Zealand.

U.N. planners organized the forum to measure progress in fighting racial discrimination and xenophobia since a controversial 2001 racism conference in Durban, South Africa.

The United States and Israel walked out of those talks over an attempt by some participants to link Zionism with racism.