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U.S. President George W. Bush at the UN on Tuesday. (Reuters)
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Wife of abducted soldier blames Ahmadinejad for kidnapping
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Iran, United Nations 

Karnit Goldwasser, wife of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Ehud Goldwasser, blamed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday night for her husband's kidnapping.

At a press conference that followed Ahmadinejad's address to the United Nations General Assembly, Goldwasser said to the Iranian president, "My name is Karnit and I'm the wife of Goldwasser that was kidnapped by Hezbollah to Lebanon more than a year ago and you're responsible for this by your support. I'm asking how come you're not allowing the Red Cross to go to visit them."

Ahmadinejad ignored her, "saying next question."
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Ehud Goldwasser was kidnapped along with Eldad Regev on July 12, 2006, in a cross-border raid by Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants.

Goldwasser told Army Radio on Wednesday that Ahmadinejad was clearly caught off guard. "He was pretty surprised to find me there," she said. "The distance between us was about two meters."

In his 40-minute address to the UN on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad declared the Iran nuclear issue "officially closed".

Ahmadinejad praised the International Atomic Energy Association for dealing with doubts about Iran's nuclear objectives on a legal level, and said Iran complies with the IAEA, but it has been deprived of technical assistance by "the arrogant powers".

He added that sanctions imposed on Iran by "the arrogant powers" are illegal and said that despite them Iran has achieved "by the grace of God" industrial scale fuel production capacity, which it intends to use for peaceful purposes.

A major theme of the president's speech was the "fulfillment of God's promise", which Ahmadinejad said would occur when world powers left the "path of Satan" and returned to monotheism and divine values. He described the "end of dark era" as the return of prisoners to their homes, and the "liberation of Palestine and Iraq".

In an expected tirade against Israel, Ahmadinejad called it "brutal" and its soldiers "terrorists."

"The brutal Zionists carry out targeted assassinations," he told the world leaders who gathered in New York for the 62nd General Assembly, "and terrorists are decorated with medals of peace."

"People have been displaced and are under economic pressure. Occupiers are protected and praised, while Palestinians are deprived of water, electrity and medicine," the Iranian president continued.

Ahmadinejad spoke at the UN General Assembly after his controversial address at Columbia University on Monday.

Though he did not name the United States specifically, the beginning of Ahmadinejad's speech was clearly aimed at the superpower, whom he blamed for "widespread violations of human rights, terrorism and occupation." He blamed the nameless "power" for secret prisons, abductions, secret trials and wiretappings.

Several hours earlier, in his address to the General Assembly, U.S. President George W. Bush said that the UN unfairly criticizes Israel, but he avoided other issues that took center-stage in his speeches in former years.

Bush heaped criticism on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, which he said attacks Israel regularly but withholds criticism on other major human rights violators around the world.

However, Bush did not address the war in Iraq, the Iranian nuclear threat or the war on terror - all cornerstone issues in most of his foreign policy speeches.

Bush also urged other nations to support the struggle for democracy in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon, and labeled Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Iran "brutal regimes."

"The people of Lebanon and Afghanistan and Iraq have asked for our help, and every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand with them," Bush said.

"Every civilized nation also has a responsibility to stand up for the people suffering under dictatorship," the president said. "In Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Iran, brutal regimes deny their people the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the United Nations," he continued.

The president originally intented to make spreading democracy the theme of his second term, but refocussed his efforts on the war in Iraq. His handling of that conflict has made him increasingly unpopular at home and abroad as he heads into his final 15 months in office.

Bush was the first to speak at the 62nd General Assembly, and primarily focused on what he called the United States' humanitarian contributions to the world.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, however, directly addressed Iran's nuclear program when he addressed the General Assembly for the first time since becoming president in May.

Sarkozy said allowing Iran to arm itself with nuclear weapons would be an "unacceptable risk to stability in the region and in the world."

"There will not be peace in the world if the international community falters in the face of the proliferation of nuclear arms," Sarkozy said. "The Iranian crisis will only be resolved if firmness and dialogue go hand-in-hand."

The U.S. and many of its allies, including France, have been pressuring Iran to suspend its controversial nuclear program, which they believe is cover for weapons development - a charge Iran denies. Bush has refused to take military action off the table if Iran does not comply.

Sarkozy's comments came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened tougher sanctions against Iran if Tehran remains intractable on the dispute over its nuclear program.

Merkel said she intends to make clear in her address to the General Assembly later Tuesday that an Iranian nuclear bomb would have devastating consequences not only for Israel and the whole of the Middle East, but for Europe and the rest of the world.

In a stinging defense of Iran, Nicaragua's leftist President Daniel Ortega chastised the U.S. for seeking to restrict Tehran's right to enrich uranium.

In his speech to the General Assembly, Ortega said the United States, as the only country in the world to have dropped nuclear bombs on innocent people, had no right to question the right of Iran and North Korea to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

"And even if they want nuclear power for purposes that are not peaceful, with what right does (the U.S.) question it?" he added.

Ortega has promised to maintain ties with Washington since taking office again in January, but also has signed a series of accords with Iran.

About a dozen anti-war protesters were arrested during a peaceful demonstration of Bush's speech near the United Nations. Many in the crowd of about 400 people wore orange jumpsuits in solidarity with detainees being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

While Bush was in New York, the U.S. Congress called for tighter sanctions against Ahmadinejad's government and the designation of his military as a terrorist group.

The rebuke reflected lawmakers' long-held nervousness surrounding Tehran's aggression in the region, particularly toward Israel. To become law, the House bill would have to be reconciled with any legislation the Senate may pass before going to Bush for signature.

For the full story on the House vote, click here.

UN chief pledges to push for peace in Mideast
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday took the podium for the first time as UN chief and called for an internal climate of change at the world body to address the growing number of issues requiring collective action.

"Looking to the coming year and beyond, we can foresee a daunting array of challenges to come," he told the General Assembly. They are problems that respect no borders - that no country, big or small, rich or poor, can resolve on its own.

Ban said peace in the Middle East is vital to the stability of the region and the world.

"We know what is required: an end to violence, an end to occupation, the creation of a Palestinian state at peace with itself and Israel, and a comprehensive regional peace between Israel and the Arab world," he said
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  1.   Bush helps run a `brutal regime` in Iraq 19:31  |  Michael 25/09/07
  2.   Don`t throw stones Michael.... 19:54  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  3.   Nothing new from Michael 20:02  |  Alex 25/09/07
  4.   Bush is a man 20:21  |  Gene 25/09/07
  5.   Alex apologist for Bush 20:27  |  Michael 25/09/07
  6.   A hollow laugh rang out at the General Assembly 20:28  |  Clickfool 25/09/07
  7.   michael,you don`t know s**t.read your post again,# 1 and answer 20:30  |  terrornator 25/09/07
  8.   Bush is Worried 20:31  |  Realistic Arab 25/09/07
  9.   alex and dave 20:31  |  maria 25/09/07
  10.   How would you run the war on terror Michael? 20:40  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  11.   ClickFOOL, come on.............. 20:42  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  12.   #2 - Hamas allows attacks on Gaza Christians 20:45  |  Polybios 25/09/07
  13.   Realistic Arab 20:46  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  14.   a hollow laugh rings out every time the sussex fools writes his 20:48  |  terrornator 25/09/07
  15.   Michael- even if you`re right... 20:50  |  Polybios 25/09/07
  16.   realistic arab,you forgot one thing,the radical islamist that 20:56  |  terrornator 25/09/07
  17.   Add Clickfthefool in there 2 DAVE 21:09  |  Free the World 25/09/07
  18.   `A Palestinian State at peace with Israel......!!! 21:16  |  Dagma 25/09/07
  19.   Oh dear, the terrornator`s upset! 7 21:16  |  Michael 25/09/07
  20.   For Dave in Chicago # 11 21:19  |  Clickfool 25/09/07
  21.   Wow... 21:20  |  Ben 25/09/07
  22.   10 Dave, we`ve got to turn moderate muslims towards us 21:22  |  Michael 25/09/07
  23.   Give me a break! 21:24  |  Paulo 25/09/07
  24.   Way to Go Sarkozy - France is Back 21:31  |  Jane 25/09/07
  25.   very funny 21:32  |  Leona 25/09/07
  26.   # 16 Terrornator 21:34  |  Realistic Arab 25/09/07
  27.   iran: who is going to make the job? 21:38  |  michel 25/09/07
  28.   FOOL! Not enough evidence...... 21:54  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  29.   Michael #21, I agree with your premise..... 22:11  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  30.   Michael #21 (more.....) 22:20  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  31.   Its a mad mad mad mad world 22:29  |  Bill 25/09/07
  32.   #19 22:32  |  Moshe 25/09/07
  33.   more for Michael 22:44  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  34.   Not Interested 22:49  |  Jack 25/09/07
  35.   19 Clickfool - no, terrorists are responsible for iraqi deaths 22:51  |  matt 25/09/07
  36.   FOOL, while waiting for the posts to show ... 22:57  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  37.   clickfool....is it really bush`s fault? 22:57  |  maria 25/09/07
  38.   michael in uk don`t compare.... 23:01  |  maria 25/09/07
  39.   waiting for the posts II.............. 23:01  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  40.   paulo...the un is anti-israel. 23:02  |  maria 25/09/07
  41.   jane.... 23:04  |  maria 25/09/07
  42.   more for Michael (correction) 23:06  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  43.   #9 Maria 23:08  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  44.   Dave 25 we can`t do much about Ishmael however... 23:09  |  Michael 25/09/07
  45.   to Haaretz moderator 23:19  |  Dave from Chicago 25/09/07
  46.   #23 Jane 23:20  |  Labhras 25/09/07
  47.   #6 23:22  |  Moshe 25/09/07
  48.   dave from chicago re. michael...isaac and ishmael 23:24  |  maria 25/09/07
  49.   Bush has nothing relevant to say. 23:25  |  Maki 25/09/07
  50.   A WORLD LEADER IS BORN 23:28  |  indrajaya 25/09/07
  51.   He`s right you know, I get metals ALL the time 23:29  |  Zionist Terrorist 25/09/07
  52.   Bush slams UN? 23:34  |  Dutch Dirk 25/09/07
  53.   Gene 23:35  |  American 25/09/07
  54.   George W. Knows that there is NO salvation BUT through Jesus 23:36  |  Christian America 25/09/07
  55.   Sarkozy`s you are a hero, thank you 23:40  |  Johnny 25/09/07
  56.   To Dave from Chicago #2 23:49  |  Persian Kitty 25/09/07
  57.   Middle East 23:50  |  B.P. 25/09/07
  58.   Remarkable speech by Dr.A ,one of the finest at the UN! 23:52  |  lakshmi 25/09/07
  59.   28 maria. Awake from your slumber 23:53  |  Hubal 25/09/07
  60.   michael,you keep on appeasing them,well keep on 23:56  |  terrornator 25/09/07
  61.   Do the math 23:59  |  Sean 25/09/07
  62.   jesse Blanco 00:00  |  Ahlajinadad`s Crisis 26/09/07
  63.   nuclear issue closed 00:00  |  yasin 26/09/07
  64.   Jane. Sarkozy will not imitate Bush 00:00  |  Hubal 26/09/07
  65.   Michael of the UK 00:01  |  Lynn 26/09/07
  66.   Not sure if my last post got through Dave... 00:13  |  Michael 26/09/07
  67.   machael everything in your post # 1,you accuse the usa of doing 00:18  |  terrornator 26/09/07
  68.   Bush Helps Run a Brutal Regime in Iraq 00:27  |  dbowes 26/09/07
  69.   Secularism 00:33  |  HM 26/09/07
  70.   At the United Nations on Tuesday Ahmadinjad 00:35  |  Dagma 26/09/07
  71.   BUSH IS SOOO WRONG 01:05  |  TOBIA 26/09/07
  72.   Maria - Trace Your Religious Roots Back 01:06  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/09/07
  73.   Jack # 26 Intelligent Arguments? 01:06  |  Jeff Northridge 26/09/07
  74.   The Sides are Clearer By the Day 01:12  |  Jane 26/09/07
  75.   #1.It was a Cater in 1979 have brought this brutal regime to Iran 01:22  |  e.m 26/09/07
  76.   Deny people their fundamental rights 01:36