European leaders meeting here at Hampton Court on Thursday condemned "in the strongest terms" the comments by Iranian President in respect of the State of Israel, which call for violence and the destruction of Israel.

The remarks "are manifestly inconsistent with any claim to be a mature and responsible member of the international community," said a statement issued by the EU presidency on behalf of leaders of the EU members.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" at a conference in Tehran entitled The World without Zionism while Israel's Vice-Prime Minister Shimon Peres called for Iran to be expelled from the United Nations.

Such comments will cause concern about Iran's role in the region, and its future intentions, said the statement, adding "The fact that these comments were made on the same day as a horrific attack on Israeli civilians should reinforce the lesson that incitement to violence, and the terrorism that it breeds, are despicable and unacceptable acts."

The EU reiterated its stand on a solution to the Arab-Israeli dispute based on the principle of two states living side-by-side in peace and security, urging all parties in the region to do their utmost to bring that vision to fulfillment.

Earlier on Thursday, Britain's Foreign Office described the comments as "deeply disturbing and sickening".

"We have seen in Israel today the horrible reality of the violence he (Mr Ahmadinejad) is praising," a spokesman said, referring to a Palestinian suicide attack on Wednesday in the Israeli town of Hadera that killed five people and injured up to 30 others.

Source: Xinhua