Protestors Denounce Ahmadinejad Speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Protesters packed into D.C's Farragut Square in downtown on Thursday. They were there not to speak out against something happening here, but rather up in New York City.

That's where Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unleashed another bitter speech against Israel, the U.S., and the Holocaust.

The message in downtown D.C. was unmistakable. About 200 protesters denouced Iran's president, its human rights record and its nuclear program.

"Ahmadinejad has made his intentions clear!" said Susie Gelman of the Jewish Federation.

"The evils of the Iranian regime must be conveyed to the world around us!" said Rabbi Steve Gutow of the Jewish Council of Public Affairs.

"Iran will never be allowed to have nuclear weapons," said Rep. Eliot engel (D-New York).

But 200 miles away at the U.N. headquarters in New York, there was a much different message. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has claimed the Holocaust didn't happen, described the Iranian elections that lead to massive protests and a brutal crackdown as a "large majority" of victory. He also denounced Israel and the U.S.

"Bombings in Afghanistan and Pakistan have not yet stopped and the Guantanamo prison has not yet been shutdown," said Ahmadinejad.

But even as the U.N. passed a resolution calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons, experts doubt its impact on Iran.

"Iran, remember, has already ignored five binding Security Council resolutions," said Kristen Silverberg, the former U.S. ambassador to the European Union.

Silverberg wants the U.S. to put more pressure on Iran's government.

"The thing we really need to do is make it clear that the United States stands with the reformers against the mullahs," said Silverberg.

For protesters in Farragut Square, the issue is not just global politics, but the global threat from a nuclear-armed Iran.

Ahmadinejad's speech comes as the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China prepare for talks with Iran next week aimed at stopping its nuclear weapons program.

The Iranian government has repeatedly said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but Ahmadinejad has also said the U.S. and other nuclear powers should not believe they are the only ones who could possess nuclear weapons.