

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had harsh words for Israel and called homosexuality an "ugly behavior."

During a taped interview with Piers Morgan broadcast Monday night on CNN, Ahmadinejad responded candidly to Morgan's questioning about a statement the Iranian leader once made that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

Speaking through a translator, Ahmadinejad said:

If a group comes and occupies the United States of America, destroys homes while women and children are in those homes, incarcerate the youth of America, impose five different wars on many neighbors, and always threaten others, what would you do? What would you say? Would you help it? ... Or would you help the people of the United States?

So when we say "to be wiped," we say for occupation to be wiped off from this world. For war-seeking to (be) wiped off and eradicated, the killing of women and children to be eradicated. And we propose the way. We propose the path. The path is to recognize the right of the Palestinians to self-governance.

Ahmadinejad also did not fully acknowledge the Holocaust, saying to Morgan, "Whatever event has taken place throughout history, or hasn't taken place, I cannot judge that. Why should I judge that? I say researchers and scholars must be free to conduct research and analysis about any historical event."



The Iranian president, who is in New York for an address to the United Nations on Wednesday, condemned the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Libya that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens.

"First of all any action that is provocative (that) offends the religious thoughts and feelings of any people we condemn. Likewise we condemn any type of extremism. Of course what took place is ugly."

Ahmadinejad also called homosexuality an "ugly behavior."

"Homosexuality ceases procreation," he said. "Who has said that if you like or believe in doing something ugly, and others do not accept your behavior they are denying your freedom? Who says that? Perhaps in a country they wish to legitimize stealing?"

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Morgan then asked the Iranian president what he would do if one of his children was gay.

"Proper education must be given," Ahmadinejad said. "The education system must be revamped. The political system must be revamped. But if a group recognizes an ugly behavior or ugly deed as legitimate, you must not expect other countries or other groups to give it the same recognition."

