Barack Obama condemns Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's UN speech

US President Barack Obama has described as "hateful" and "offensive" the claim by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that most people believe the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks, according to BBC News.

Mr Obama said it was inexcusable to make such remarks in New York itself, where most of the victims of 9/11 died.

"It was offensive. It was hateful. And particularly for him to make the statement here in Manhattan, just a little north of Ground Zero, where families lost their loved ones. People of all faiths, all ethnicities who see this as the seminal tragedy of this generation. For him to make a statement like that was inexcusable," Mr Obama said.

"I did not pass judgment, but don't you feel that the time has come to have a fact-finding committee? The fact-finding mission can shed light on who the perpetrators were, who is al-Qaeda... where does it exist? Who was it backed by and supported? All these should come to light," Mr Ahmadinejad had told reporters on Friday.

Mr Ahmadinejad's speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday triggered a walkout.