U.N. chief calls off upcoming visit to Iran

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has canceled a trip to Iran in response to increasing tension over the Iranian president's call for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

Annan, who will travel to the Middle East next week, announced Friday that it is "not an appropriate time" for him to go to Iran, citing the "ongoing controversy" over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks last week, according to a statement from his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, AP reported. V.A.