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France denounces 'brutal repression' in Iran
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 21 - 06 - 2009


France's top diplomat on Sunday condemned the
«brutal repression» of dissent by Iranian authorities and
rejected accusations of foreign interference in Iran's
worst political unrest in 30 years, according to AP.
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Iranian officials
had summoned the diplomatic corps in Tehran on Sunday and
made «unacceptable statements about several foreign
leaders.»
«It is not with such insults that the Iranian government
will respond to the aspirations of its people,» he said.
While the U.S. and some other governments have been
cautious in their response to Iran's postelection protests,
France has been critical of Iran's leadership and
supportive of the protesters.
«I condemn this brutal repression,» Kouchner said in a
statement, referring to deadly clashes Saturday in Tehran
between police and protesters.
Demonstrators in Paris, meanwhile, rallied Sunday against
the Iranian government, calling for a ballot recount and
chanting «Down with the dictatorship» in Farsi, French
and English.
Iran's government has bristled at what it considers
foreign meddling. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki on Sunday rebuked Britain, France and Germany for
raising questions about alleged voting irregularities in
hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.
Mottaki accused France of taking «treacherous and unjust
approaches.»
Kouchner rejected the charge. «We do not want in any way
to decide in the place of the Iranians their future,» he
said.
He urged the Iranian authorities to release those arrested
during the protests and lift restrictions on journalists
barred from reporting in the streets. He praised the
«popular movement that is fighting with courage for
transparency and justice.»
Earlier Sunday, Kouchner had struck a more conciliatory
tone in comments carried in the Journal du Dimanche
newspaper.
«We should pursue the effort for dialogue that we have
put in place alongside sanctions because of the nuclear
danger,» Kouchner was quoted as saying.
Repeated rounds of U.N. Security Council sanctions have
sought to punish Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium
enrichment. The United States and its allies suspect Iran
of seeking a nuclear arsenal, while Tehran says it is
pursuing only atomic energy.
Paris has been the scene in recent days of several rallies
in solidarity with the Iranian protesters.
Children waved green balloons and women blew green
whistles at a demonstration Sunday near the Iranian
Embassy. Police said 450 people were present.
«It is very crucial (to demonstrate) because this is the
first time that the population is firmly standing against
the system. It's not just matter of two candidates,
rivalries between two candidates, it's now the people
against the regime,» said 80-year-old Iranian demonstrator
Parviz Mina.


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