Outrage over Holocaust conference

Iran says it wants to discuss views considered taboo in Europe

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has met delegates at a conference in Iran questioning the Holocaust, drawing widespread international criticism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned it and British PM Tony Blair called it "shocking beyond belief".

Iran says it wants to debate what it calls taboos surrounding the Holocaust. Conference participants include white supremacists and Holocaust deniers.

Some six million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime during World War II.

According to the foreign ministry in Tehran, 67 researchers from 30 countries are attending the conference in Iran, which is home to 25,000 Jews.

Participants include a number of well-known "revisionist" Western academics. American David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, is to present a paper.

The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran describes the conference as a roll call of the world's most infamous Holocaust deniers - all delighted that Iran has given them the oxygen of publicity.

'Unacceptable character'

In a number of European countries - including Germany, Austria and France - it is illegal to deny the Holocaust. An Austrian court jailed Briton David Irving for three years on charges of Holocaust denial.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS Australian Fredrick Toeben, jailed in Germany for incitement and insulting the memory of the dead Frenchman Robert Faurisson, convicted in France under Holocaust denial laws Frenchman Georges Thiel, convicted in France under Holocaust denial laws American David Duke, a former KKK leader and white supremacist Media spotlight on conference In quotes: World reaction

At his monthly media briefing in London, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called the Holocaust conference "shocking beyond belief".

He described Iran as a "major strategic threat" to the Middle East, saying: "Iran is deliberately causing maximum problems for moderate governments and for ourselves in the region - in Palestine, in Lebanon and in Iraq."

He added there was "little point" in including Iran and Syria in regional issues, such as Iraq, "unless they are prepared to be constructive" and that it would be a "major challenge" to deal with Iran.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, flanked by visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said: "We reject in the strongest terms conferences held in Iran on the supposed non-existence of the Holocaust.

"Germany will never accept this and will use all possibilities at its disposal to oppose it."

Mr Olmert said the conference showed the "unacceptable character" of the Iranian government and the "danger" it poses for the West.

'Freedom of expression'

Opening the conference on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the aim of the conference was "not to deny or confirm the Holocaust".

Mr Ahmadinejad accuses Israel of trading off a "Holocaust myth"

"Its main aim is to create an opportunity for thinkers who cannot express their views freely in Europe about the Holocaust," he said.

In a recorded address broadcast to the nation, President Ahmadinejad questioned why the West would not allow "any investigation" into the Holocaust.

Mr Ahmadinejad has repeatedly downplayed the extent of the Holocaust, describing it as a myth used to justify the existence of Israel and oppression of the Palestinians. He has called for an end to the Israeli state.

Many Iranians must be wondering why they have the right to deny the Holocaust with impunity, but not to question their own leaders without risking jail, our correspondent says.

In recent months, newspapers have been closed, journalists jailed and students penalised for engaging in any sort of political activity in Iran.