Delegates walk out in UN racism row
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Anger: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Israel 'totally racist' (Reuters)
Dozens of diplomats have staged a mass walkout at a United Nations racism conference after the Iranian President accused Israel of being a cruel and racist regime.
Delegates, including the entire contingent of European Union representatives, walked out within minutes of the opening speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after he accused Israel of being a "totally racist" regime.
The US and Israel had already boycotted the conference along with Australia, Italy, Germany, Poland, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
They thought the meeting would provide a platform for criticism of Israel, and the Iranian President proved them right.
"Following the Second World War they resorted to military aggression to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering," he said.
"And then they sent migrants from Europe, the United States, and from other parts of the world in order to establish a totally racist government in occupied Palestine."
A group of protesters shouted 'racist' in French at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Some wore clown wigs, and one got close enough to throw a red object at the podium and did manage to interrupt the speech before being escorted out of the conference.
The Iranian President is the only head of state at the five-day meeting and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon said he was profoundly disappointed that many countries did not show up.
"Some nations who, by rights, should be helping to forge a path to a better future are not here," he said.
"Outside these halls, interest groups of many political and ideological stripes shout against one another in acrimony. They too should be with us, talking together."
Mr Ban condemned the Iranian leader's words and his attempt to hijack the conference.
To attend or not to attend
Twenty-three of the 27 member states of the European Union decided that it was better to show up and engage in the fight against racism head on. They all walked out during the Iranian leader's speech.
The French ambassador to the UN, Jean-Baptiste Mattei, says France is prepared to stick it out.
"The position of France is that we should remain in the conference and we should work, on the basis of what was already agreed, because we had a rather good final document," he said.
"So we should keep it of course, and we are ready to work in good faith."
Norway's Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, took to the stage immediately after the Iranian President.
"I think non-attendance is not the most effective strategy; speaking out is better," he said.
"It is the right of the Iranian President to come and speak, but it is also our right to rebuff him very firmly when he speaks."
Britain's ambassador to the UN, Peter Gooderham, has defended the UK's decision to attend the conference.
"We took the view that it's better to be part of the process, to seek to influence it," he said.
"But also of course to keep a vigilant eye out for conduct of this nature, and then when it occurs, to take the necessary action, which is what we've done this afternoon."
A number of high-profile campaigners, including a Harvard law professor, a Nobel Prize laureate and a film star have set up a special media room on the sidelines of the main meeting to provide immediate responses to anti-Israeli statements.
