Iran today attempted to row back from its president's call for Israel to be wiped off the map as the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, joined an international chorus of condemnation.
A statement released by the Iranian embassy in Moscow said Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "did not have any intention to speak up in such sharp terms and enter into a conflict".
The Guardian even note an anti-Israeli demonstration today in Iran.
Tens of thousands of Iranians today staged anti-Israel protests, repeating Mr Ahmadinejad's call for the country to be wiped off the map.
Multiple demonstrations in Tehran and other major cities saw protesters carrying banners displaying anti-Israeli slogans including "Death to Israel, Death to America".
What the Guardian fail to tell you is that Ahmadinejad was at the demonstration and repeated his calls for the destruction of Israel.
Iran's president has defended his widely criticised call for Israel to be "wiped off the map".
Attending an anti-Israel rally in Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his remarks were "just" - and the criticism did not "have any validity." [...]
Many carried posters and placards sporting the slogan "Israel should be wiped off the map".
Joining the protest, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "My words were the Iranian nation's words.
"Westerners are free to comment, but their reactions are invalid," Mr Ahmadinejad told the official Irna news agency.
That sound like "row[ing] back" to you?
UPDATE 29 Oct
I see the Guardian has now stealth edited the report to include Ahmadinejad's appearance at the demonstration calling for the destruction of Israel and his refusal to retract his statements.
Remember the headline used to read "Diplomats play down Ahmadinejad remarks". Now it says "Tehran defiant over Israel slur"
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