Region | Iran
West piles pressure on Iran
At least ten people die in protests and relatives of former president arrested.
- Agencies
- Published: 23:07 June 21, 2009
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London: Iran must allow peaceful protests against its disputed presidential election and ensure a fair result, Western governments said on Sunday, rejecting charges they were interfering in Iranian affairs.
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband dismissed comments from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling on the United States and Britain to stop interfering in the Islamic Republic's internal affairs.
"The UK is categorical that it is for the Iranian people to choose their government and for the Iranian authorities to ensure the fairness of the result and the protection of their own people."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Iranian authorities to recount votes, refrain from using violence against demonstrators, free detained opposition members and allow free media reporting of the protests.
Ahmadinejad was quoted as telling clerics yesterday: "Definitely by hasty remarks you will not be placed in the circle of friendship with the Iranian nation," in remarks the ISNA news agency said were directed at US President Barack Obama and Brown.
Mass protests erupted in Tehran after official figures showed hardline incumbent Ahmadinejad had won the election by a landslide. His main opponent, reformer Mir Hussain Mousavi, says the vote was rigged. The government denies the charge.
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Iran state television said 10 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in protests held in Tehran on Saturday. A separate report put the number of deaths at 13.
The BBC said its correspondent in Tehran had been ordered to leave within 24 hours and Dubai-based television channel Al Arabiya also said its Tehran bureau had been ordered to remain closed.
Press TV reported that prominent Iranian cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's eldest daughter, Faezeh Hashemi, and four other family members were arrested Saturday. Rafsanjani has made no secret of his distaste for Ahmadinejad.
Vote count: Speaker has doubts
Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said a majority of Iranians contest the official results of the presidential election, state-run Press TV said.
"The opinion of this majority should be respected," Larijani said on a website affiliated to him, Khabaronline, Press TV said on Sunday.
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