In a rebuff to Iran, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has cancelled 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 it is not appropriate for him to travel to Iran," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday.

The Iran vote and after

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. 

Dujarric said Annan wants to focus on the Middle East peace process and "in the light of the ongoing controversy (about Iranian president's remarks), it would have been difficult to advance the agenda he wanted to discuss with the Iranian leadership."

In a rare criticism of a member state, Annan had spoken of the right of all states in the area to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

His discussions in the Middle East would focus on achieving regional stability, the peace process, Iraq and following up world leaders' summit at the United Nations in September 2004.

Annan is also visiting Pakistan to draw the world's attention to the "absolute critical" need for assistance for the earthquake victims to be mobilised before winter sets in.

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