Iranian Leader Gets Cold Welcome

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been denounced as “a petty and cruel dictator” by a university chief in the United States.

He came under fire as he took to the stage at New York’s Columbia University to address students and answer questions.

Columbia President Lee Bollinger rounded on him over Iran’s human-rights record and foreign policy.

“Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator,” he said, to loud applause.

He said Mr Ahmadinejad’s denial of the Holocaust might fool the illiterate and ignorant.

“(But) when you come to a place like this it makes you simply ridiculous.

The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history.”

Mr Ahmadinejad said Mr Bollinger’s introduction was “an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience here.”

He also accused him of “unfriendly treatment” and of being influenced by the American media and politicians.

Earlier Mr Ahmadinejad defended his country’s record on human rights, saying its citizens are “very joyous, happy people”.

He made the claim as hundreds of people gathered outside the United Nations and Columbia University to protest against his appearances in the US.

Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters: “People in Iran are very joyous, happy people. They’re very free in expressing what they think.”

In a television interview he rejected suggestions Iran was building a nuclear weapon or planning to go to war.

His visit to America has infuriated politicians, religious groups and other organisations.