G8 foreign ministers deplore post-election violence in Iran
14:2626/06/2009 TRIESTE, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - The Group of Eight leading industrialized countries deplored on Friday the post-election violence in Iran and called on the authorities in the country to resolve the conflict by dialogue.
"We deplore post-electoral violence which led to the loss of lives of Iranian civilians and urge Iran to respect fundamental human rights including freedom of expression and ensured by the international treaties it has ratified," G8 foreign ministers gathered for a meeting in Italy's Trieste are to say, according to a draft joint statement.
The draft, which Russia and others have sought to soften, also says they "fully respect the sovereignty of Iran."
Ahmadinejad's landslide victory on June 12 sparked mass protests amid opposition allegations of ballot fraud. At least 13 people are reported to have been killed according to Iranian media and over 450 arrested in the largest challenge to the Islamic Revolution since the 1979 overthrow of the U.S.-backed shah.
Despite calls by some western powers, Iranian state television reported on Tuesday that the Guardian Council would not annul the results of the presidential vote.
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