UN Secretary General in Malta - regrets Ahmadinejad remarks

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon this afternoon criticised Iranian President Ahmadinejad over comments he made yesterday at a UN conference on racism.

"It is very regretful that the conference was misused by the Iranian President for political purposes" the UN Secretary General said during an official visit to Malta.

The Iranian President used the conference yesterday to describe Israel as "the most cruel and racist regime." His comments prompted a walkout by 23 delegations.

Mr Ban also expressed regret that some countries had stayed away from the conference. The US and Israel have led about a dozen nations in boycotting the meeting.

"Before the speech I had a long bilateral meeting with the President Ahmadinejad and urged him to give a balanced and constructive contribution to the conference because he was the only Head of State present," Mr Ban said.

The Secretary General said Mr Ahmadinejad had been invited to speak first because he was the only head of state at the conference, although invitations had been issued to all heads of states.

Mr Ban said he had no new appointment to meet the Iranian President but he would approach Iran and the other countries which had issues with the conference, to discuss the situation.