Russia objects to sanctions against Iran
RUSSIA: Moscow is against imposing sanctions on Iran over the alleged
crackdown on protests following the country's controversial presidential
elections, a spokesman for the Russia Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
"We believe that sanctions against Iran over its internal political
problems would be unlawful and counter-productive," Andrei Nesterenko
told a regular press conference.
Such a move would provoke unwelcome events in the country and the
region, the spokesman said, adding that all disputes should be addressed
through legal means.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said earlier that the upcoming
meeting of the Group of Eight leaders in central Italy would discuss
possible sanctions against Iran for its crackdown on election protests.
According to official data, incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total ballots in the June 12
presidential elections.
Ahmadinejad's main rival Mir Hossein Mousavi, however, claimed the
elections were marred by numerous irregularities, triggering massive
protest rallies by his supporters.
Iran's Guardian Council, the top legislative body, has rejected any
annulment of the elections since it found "no major irregularities."
MOSCOW, Friday, Xinhua
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