Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday sharply criticized Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at a UN racism conference as an "intolerable appeal for racist hatred."

The French president "totally condemns this speech of hatred," his office said in a press statement, adding that Sarkozy "is calling for an extremely firm reaction by the European Union."

Among a number of controversial statements, the Iranian leader said at the United Nations Durban Review Conference on racism in Geneva that Palestinians had been "made homeless" following World War II "under the pretext of Jewish suffering."

He also declared that there was a "racist regime in Palestine" which had been given "a free hand to continue (its) crimes."

The comments triggered a walkout of the European Union delegates at the Geneva conference.

Ahmadinejad's presence at the UN conference on racism prompted a number of countries, including the United States and Germany, to boycott the event. (dpa)