Saturday, November 5 2005 09:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: In a rebuff to Iran, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has canceled his scheduled visit to the country next week amidst international criticism against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks calling for Israel to be 'wiped off the map'.

Annan and the Iranian government have "mutually agreed that this is not appropriate for him to travel to Iran," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said yesterday (Nov 04, 2005).

The Secretary-General leaves this weekend on a tour that would take him to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Pakistan and he would meet French President Jacques Chirac in Paris on Monday.

Ahmadinejad had made the controversial remarks on October 26 and as the international criticism mounted, he defended his call, asserting that this has always been the position of his country.

Last week, Annan had criticised the Iranian President's statement but the indications were that the visit would take place. However, as Ahmadinejad defended his remarks, Annan decided against visiting Tehran.