BEIJING, Oct. 28 -- A number of governments around the world expressed shock on Thursday at a call by Iran's president call for Israel to be "wiped off the map", and several summoned Iranian ambassadors for reprimands.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks were unacceptable.     

    "These sentiments are completely and totally unacceptable. I have never come across a situation of a president of a country saying they want to wipe out - not that they've got a problem with, or an issue with, but want to wipe out another country." Blair said.

    In Paris, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met his French counterpart.     

    "We know what the real intentions of the Iranians are they are trying to develop nuclear bomb to destroy the state of Israel. It is not the first time for them to say it." said Shalom.

    French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy also expressed his shock, saying such remarks were totally unqualifiable.

    Following the Iranian president's remarks, the Israeli foreign minister said Iraq should be suspended from the United Nations, however he said Israel had not decided whether or not to ask officially for Iran's removal from the UN.

    The 25 EU leaders, meeting at Hampton Court Palace near London, said the remarks would "cause concern about Iran's role in the region and its future intentions".

    Relations between the EU and Iran have recently deteriorated after negotiations failed to get Iran to drop parts of its nuclear programme that could be used to make weapons.

    
    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)