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Last update - 17:28 24/12/2008
Ahmadinejad invited to 'counter' Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas message
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel News, Ahmadinejad 

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will deliver a Christmas Day broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 television, occupying a slot used to provide an often controversial counterpoint to Queen Elizabeth II's traditional annual message, the station said Wednesday.

In his recorded message, Ahmadinejad offers seasonal greetings to Christians and says he believes that if Jesus was alive, he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers, an apparent reference to the United States and its allies.

According to a transcript of the broadcast released in advance, Ahmadinejad says most of the world's problems stem from leaders who have turned against religion. He doesn't refer to rival nations or leaders by name or raise the issue of Israel, despite his previous calls for the removal of the Jewish state.
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"If Christ was on earth today undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over," Ahmadinejad said, according to the text.

The U.S., Britain and others suspect Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its uranium enrichment program is intended solely for a civilian energy program.

Ties with the U.K. were further strained in 2007 over the detention by Iran of 15 British sailors and marines, who were held for 13 days.

Ahmadinejad's message follows similar Christmas broadcasts on Channel 4 by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sharon Osborne and the animated TV character Marge Simpson of The Simpsons. Last year's message was delivered by Sgt. Maj. Andrew Stockton, a British soldier badly wounded in Afghanistan.

Ahmadinejad spoke in Persian, with subtitles in English, the channel said.

Dorothy Byrne, head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, said Ahmadinejad had been selected because relations between Iran and the West are likely to be a key global issue in 2009.

"As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle East, President
Ahmadinejad's views are enormously influential. As we approach a critical time in international relations, we are offering our viewers an insight into an alternative world view," Byrne said in a statement.

The channel's news program broadcast an interview with Ahmadinejad in September 2007, when the Iranian leader insisted his nation wasn't seeking to develop a nuclear weapon


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      1.   Hitler on UK radio 15:50  |  Bob 24/12/08
      2.   Trust the British to come up with this ridiculous farce 15:57  |  Dan 24/12/08
      3.   Good ol` Brits again 16:01  |  sharon 24/12/08
      4.   I guess they couldn`t get the Grinch who Stole 16:04  |  J 24/12/08
      5.   UK Jews -- do you really want to remain there? 17:30  |  Serge 24/12/08
      6.   I am sure many Israelis will tune in to watch Channel 4. 17:43  |  JustMe 24/12/08
      7.   King George VI’s Christmas message of 1939 18:05  |  Mladen Andrijsevic 24/12/08
      8.   #5 Serge 18:19  |  Boycott 24/12/08
      9.   Boycott, it is you that misses the point 18:30  |  Hannah 24/12/08
      10.   A good choice 18:43  |  utagawa 24/12/08
      11.   BBC 18:44  |  Louis Fried 24/12/08
      12.   IF JC(a Jew) was alive today he would be worried about Irans..... 18:55  |  George 24/12/08
      13.   Lesson here. 19:11  |  Paul 24/12/08
      14.   Again?! After attempt of boucotting Israel, british anti-semites 19:18  |  Vittorio 24/12/08
      15.   This is great! 19:59  |  Steve J 24/12/08
      16.   Whats interesting 20:38  |  Jim 24/12/08
      17.   The UK , anti Semitism and squatter rights 20:40  |  Steve J 24/12/08
      18.   Ahmadinejad on Channel 4 20:55  |  H 24/12/08
      19.   Jim What`s interesting is the rockets he supplied to Hamas being 20:58  |  Rob 24/12/08
      20.   #16 Jim 21:00  |  H 24/12/08
      21.   What do British Bahais think? 21:04  |  Yamin Salahi 24/12/08
      22.   British anti-semitism 21:05  |  Ryan 24/12/08
      23.   "if christ was on earth today.... 21:06  |  saul a. readner 24/12/08
      24.   Are the liberals clapping yet 21:06  |  Steve from Raleigh 24/12/08
      25.   Jesus is well and alive 21:17  |  Brod 24/12/08
      26.   Ahmadinejad, of course... 21:18  |  Maureen Ann 24/12/08
      27.   #12 George, JC would be worried? 21:23  |  Mark B. 24/12/08
      28.   #9 Hannah 21:24  |  Boycott 24/12/08
      29.   #16 Jim re. H 21:30  |  Ryan 24/12/08
      30.   Jesus the religious Jew 21:35  |  Barry 24/12/08
      31.   right on 21:37  |  kretos 24/12/08
      32.   The collapse of Zionism 21:41  |  Atoo 24/12/08
      33.   #20 21:55  |  Jim 24/12/08
      34.   No 22 22:00  |  Nina 24/12/08
      35.   re barry, Jesus the Jew 22:08  |  Steve J 24/12/08
      36.   I thought Peter Sellers was dead? 22:11  |  Big Fan of Satire 24/12/08
      37.   Speaking about Jesus... 22:20  |  Mark B. 24/12/08
      38.   Ahem-myJacket, the antiChrist 22:23  |  x-ray 24/12/08
      39.   Its is rumored 22:24  |  Brian 24/12/08
      40.   Ahmedinijad is a good choice (2nd attempt) 22:34  |  Chris Linthwaite 24/12/08
      41.   This should be fun 23:17  |  Mark Lincoln 24/12/08
      42.   Ahmadinejad NOT the real power in Iran & on his way out of office 23:25  |  anti-racist 24/12/08
      43.   Ahmedadinejad is right .... 23:32  |  Dutch 24/12/08
      44.   A sent 50,000 young Iranian boys to die in Iraqi mine fields 23:39  |  Rob 24/12/08
      45.   What one ex-pat Briton thinks 23:50  |  Morris Valentine 24/12/08
      46.   Christmas Hopes 00:33  |  utagawa 25/12/08
      47.   balance 00:48  |  ron 25/12/08
      48.   AHMADINEJAD IS RIGHT, JESUS WILL DENOUNCE USA (2003-2008) 00:59  |  indrajaya 25/12/08
      49.   Ahmadinejad sent 50,000 Iranian boys to die in Iraqi mine fields 01:05  |  Rob 25/12/08
      50.   The brits continue their slide 01:12  |  Arie 25/12/08
      51.   Ahmadinejad on Christ 01:24  |  rob 25/12/08
      52.   Of course he raises the issue of Israel... 01:29  |  Gary Elliott 25/12/08
      53.   The UK`s decadence 01:34  |  ScotGuy 25/12/08
      54.   It Takes One To Know One 01:47  |  Yosemite 25/12/08
      55.   Christmas 2008 Messages 01:55  |  Shimon Cleopas 25/12/08
      56.   Dutch and George Galloway 02:01  |  Cyasher 25/12/08
      57.   Maureen Ann-#26-Jesus was a freedom fighter 02:04  |  Daniel Leopold 25/12/08
      58.   If Jesus were alive 02:06  |  Paul Freedman 25/12/08
      59.   Re no2Ahmedinijad invited to `counter` Queen Elizabeth 2,s ... 02:39  |  Aron 25/12/08
      60.   England is putting a gun to its head 04:07  |  D. 25/12/08
      61.   #53 Scot Guy 05:04  |  Malone 25/12/08
      62.   Cheers Chanel 4!! 07:08  |  Niva dos Santos 25/12/08
      63.   Next : Michael Jackson`s Kiddie Christmas on Channel 4 08:31  |  sharon 25/12/08
      64.   Niva Dos Santos 09:46  |  sharon 25/12/08
      65.   Jesus, Ahmadinejad and F$w#z the Jews 10:33  |  John and the truth 25/12/08
      66.   If Jesus were alive... 11:35  |  Motty Levi 25/12/08
      67.   if jesus were alive could mohammed claim to be a prophet 11:43  |  victor hardman 25/12/08
      68.   Happy Christmas to all our Christian friends 12:30  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 25/12/08
      69.   #65 john doesnt know the truth neither does anyone else 13:17  |  victor hardman 25/12/08
      70.   Why the Hell is He Given The Platform 13:55  |  Persian Kitty 25/12/08
      71.   69 is an iteresting position you are in! 13:58  |  John and the truth 25/12/08
      72.   Re: #69/ Neither does Santa Claus, but... 13:59  |  Motty Levi 25/12/08
      73.   Re: #70/ In Castillian it`s called "La Ley Del Embudo" 15:08  |  Motty Levi 25/12/08
      74.   Thank you, Margie 16:32  |  Morris Valentine 25/12/08
      75.   He speaks like G. Bush 16:42  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 25/12/08
      76.   Thank you Margie! 17:30  |  Persian Kitty 25/12/08
      77.   Morris Valentine 17:37  |  Persian Kitty 25/12/08
      78.   What was the Jewish response to the birth of Christ? 19:35  |  Mike 25/12/08
      79.   Brits are too polite to express dismay at the Islam take over of 19:42  |  lily 25/12/08
      80.   #5 Serge: Don`t tell us where to go. Offensive 19:49  |  Liliane 25/12/08
      81.   Motty levi 20:14  |  Persian Kitty 25/12/08
      82.   Best wishes on this special day! 22:08  |  utagawa 25/12/08
      83.   Merry Christmas My Lovely Fellow-Beings All over the World 23:04  |  Persian Kitty 25/12/08
      84.   Plain and absurd bad test !!! 23:26  |  Ines 25/12/08
      85.   The answer to your question Johnny truth (65) you may read 01:52  |  Jew- and Bookburner 26/12/08
      86.   "As the leader of one of the most powerful states in the Middle 02:31  |  Jew- and Bookburner 26/12/08
      87.   Hannah #9 14:27  |  Janet 26/12/08
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