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Western Nations Condemn Crackdown on Iranian Protesters

   VOA News 28 December 2009

   Western  nations are strongly condemning Iran's crackdown on political
   activists.
   The  European Union on Monday condemned Iran's use of violence against
   citizens "seeking to exercise their freedom of expression and right to
   peaceful  assembly."   The  statement,  issued  by  the  EU's  Swedish
   presidency,  further  said  that  Iran  must respect the rights of its
   people.
   British  Foreign  Secretary  David  Miliband issued a statement Monday
   praising the "great courage" of the demonstrators.  He called Sunday's
   violence  both  tragic and disturbing, and he said the deaths "are yet
   another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protest."
   German  Chancellor Angela Merkel also condemned the bloody suppression
   of the demonstrators.
   Soon  after  reports  of  violence  Sunday,  a  spokesman for the U.S.
   National  Security  Council  issued a statement saying the White House
   strongly  condemned  "the  violent  and unjust suppression" of Iranian
   civilians.    He  said  "it  is  telling  when  governments  fear  the
   aspirations of their own people."
   And  the  French  Foreign  Ministry  also  promptly issued a statement
   condemning  Sunday's  violent  crackdown.   The  statement  called the
   activists  "simple  protesters"  and  urged  the  government to find a
   political solution.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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