United Nations, Sep 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used his speech at the UN General Assembly Thursday to accuse the US and other western powers of a range of crimes.

Delegations from a number of UN member states, including the US, UK, France, Germany and Israel either left the hall during Ahmadinejad's appearance or were not present at its onset.

In his speech, Ahmadinejad said that the Sep 11, 2001 attacks were "mysterious" and they had been used as a "pretext" for US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He also said "arrogant powers" forbid any questioning of either the 9/11 attacks or the Holocaust.

"They threaten anyone who questions the Holocaust and the September 11 event with sanctions and military actions," he said.

The vast majority of Ahmadinejad's statements were in the form of rhetorical questions.

"Who abducted forcefully millions of people from their homes in Africa?" he said, before suggesting compensation for the victims of slavery.

"Which governments are always ready to drop thousands of bombs on other countries, but ponder and hesitate to provide aid to famine-stricken people in Somalia or in other places?" he also asked.

Although he made no direct comment on the Arab uprisings, he asked "can the flowers of democracy blossom from NATO missiles?"

He also criticised the killing of Osama bin Laden by US forces and his subsequent burial at sea.

Ahmadinejad's speech came two days after two US hikers found guilty of espionage were released from an Iranian jail and allowed to leave the country.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the UN building to protest the Iranian leader's presence.

The annual high-level general debate of the UN General Assembly opened Wednesday and would continue into next week.