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Foreign media are restricted in Iran - this undated photo of Iranian security personnel was uploaded onto Twitter on June 21, 2009 - Source: Reuters/Twitter -
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Iran on Monday accused the West of supporting "rioters" in
widespread street unrest that has rocked the Islamic Republic since
a disputed June 12 presidential election.
"The promotion of anarchy and vandalism by Western powers and
media is by no means acceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan
Qashqavi told a news conference. He did not rule out the possible
expulsion of some European ambassadors in Tehran.
Iran has stepped up allegations of foreign interference in its
internal affairs after official results handed hardline President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a landslide victory in the election, sparking
days of street protests by his opponents.
Ahmadinejad's main challenger, moderate politician Mirhossein
Mousavi, says the vote was rigged, a charge the authorities
deny.
Western governments on Monday rejected charges they were
interfering in Iran's affairs, saying it must allow peaceful
protests and ensure a fair election result.
Foreign countries have played no part in supporting the violent
street protests that erupted in Iran after its election, Britain's
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.
Qashqavi said: "Contrary to internationally recognised standards
... many European countries and America, instead of inviting people
to democratic institutions and instead of emphasising legal
channels, they generally supported the rioters and
opportunists."
Asked whether expelling some foreign ambassadors was an option,
Qashqavi said he would neither confirm nor deny this as Iran was
still studying possible action.
He also said Iranian diplomatic missions had been damaged during
election-related protests in other countries, including
Germany.
"We don't think that anybody would be able to attack a diplomatic
centre without the government and local police being informed," he
said.
Referring to the tight race between Democrat Al Gore and
Republican George W. Bush in 2000 and other US Presidential
elections, Qashqavi said:
"No one in that race encouraged the American people to stage a
riot or anything like that and it was actually the (US Supreme
Court) that solved the issue."
He said high turnout of 85% in this month's Iranian presidential
election is "like a brilliant gem which is shining on the peak of
dignity of the Iranian nation and we won't allow Western media to
turn this gem into a worthless stone."
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