As promised. From AP, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
TEHRAN, Iran – Tens of thousands of Iranians staged anti- Israel protests across the country on Friday, repeating calls by their ultraconservative president for the Jewish state’s destruction.
World leaders have condemned Wednesday’s remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeated the words of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic revolution, by saying: “Israel must be wiped off the map.”
On Friday the Iranian embassy in Moscow tried to soften the impact of Ahmadinejad’s comment.
“Mr. Ahmadinejad did not have any intention to speak in sharp terms and engage in a conflict,” the Iranian embassy in Moscow said in a statement following a wave of international criticism.
Yeah, surrre.