2006-08-29: Ahmadinejad invites US president Bush to television debate

Irans president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad invited US President George W. Bush to a television debate.

"I offer Mr Bush to take part in a TV debate with me without any censorship so that we put forward our views on ways to come out of the current international crises," said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and added "We have proposals for resolving the international crises on the basis of justice, dignity and equality of human being," (irna.ir)

The White House declined to participate in such a debate and called it a "diversion" from what The White House claims are "global concerns" over Iran's nuclear energy program. (news.bbc.co.uk)