world leaders the gathering

Iranian President Ahmadinejad Is in New York

The Post reported this morning that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was headed to New York City this week for the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, but a Times story says he’s already here. Ahmadinejad’s visit comes the same day that Sarah Shourd, one of the three American hikers held in Iran for thirteen months on spying charges, arrived in the United States, a release that Ahmadinejad called “a humanitarian gesture.” Now Ahmadinejad says eight Iranians whom he believes were illegally arrested by the U.S. should be released as well. Interviewing Ahmadinejad on This Week today, Christiane Amanpour protested this idea, to little avail:

In any case, if you see an Ahmadinejad look-alike on the subway this week, it might really be him.

Ahmadinejad Wants Release of Iranians Held in U.S. [NYT]
Woman Held in Iran Arrives in U.S. [NYT]
Interview With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [ABC]

Iranian President Ahmadinejad Is in New York