Albert Marshak, of Atlantic Beach, N.Y., (left), argues against the visit of the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Columbia University graduate Jacob Sabat of New York (right), who stood for the decision for Ahmadinejad to speak, in front of the entrance to Columbia University in New York, yesterday. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the U.N. and Columbia University yesterday to protest appearances by Ahmadinejad. - AP

NEW YORK (AP):

Iranian President Mah-moud Ahmadinejad took the stage at Columbia University after a blistering welcome from the school's president, who said the hard-line leader behaved like "a petty and cruel dictator."

Ahmadinejad smiled as Columbia President Lee Bollinger took him to task over Iran's human-rights record and foreign policy, as well as Ahmadinejad's statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the disappearance of Israel.

"Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," Bollinger said, to loud applause.

Illiterate and ignorant

He said Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust might fool the illiterate and ignorant.

"When you come to a place like this it makes you simply ridiculous," Bollinger said. "The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history."

Ahmadinejad rose, also to applause, and after a religious invocation said Bollinger's opening was "an insult to information and the knowledge of the audience here."

"There were insults and claims that were incorrect, regretfully," Ahmadinejad said, accusing Bollinger of offering "unfriendly treatment" under the influence of the U.S. press and politicians.