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Iran Denounces Western Criticism of Protest Crackdown

   VOA News 29 December 2009
   This  photo,  taken  by  an  individual not employed by the Associated
   Press  and obtained by the AP outside Iran shows an Iranian protestor,
   right, throwing stone at anti-riot police officers, as their bikes are
   set on fire by protestors, during anti-governmen

Photo: AP

   This  photo,  taken  by  an  individual not employed by the Associated
   Press  and obtained by the AP outside Iran shows an Iranian protestor,
   right, throwing stone at anti-riot police officers, as their bikes are
   set  on  fire  by  protestors,  during  anti-government protest at the
   Enqelab (Revolution) St. in Tehran, 27 Dec 2009

   Iranian  President  Mahmoud  Ahmadinejad has accused the United States
   and  Israel  of  staging Sunday's anti-government protests in which at
   least eight people died.
   Iran's  state-news  agency  (IRNA)  Tuesday  quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as
   calling the protests a "nauseating masquerade."
   Meanwhile, Iranian officials are denouncing international criticism of
   the  Iranian  government's  deadly  crackdown  on  Sunday's nationwide
   opposition protests.
   Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani read a statement from lawmakers
   Tuesday  saying  U.S.  President Barack Obama is disgracing himself by
   praising  the  Iranian opposition.  Some members of parliament chanted
   "Death to America."
   Mr.  Obama  said Monday he condemns what he called Iran's "violent and
   unjust  suppression  of  innocent  Iranians."  He also expressed "deep
   admiration for the courage and conviction of Iranians."
   British  Foreign  Secretary David Miliband also praised what he called
   the "great courage" of Iranian demonstrators.
   Iran's  Foreign  Ministry  summoned  the  British ambassador in Tehran
   Tuesday  to  file  a  complaint  about foreign interference in Iranian
   affairs.
   The  British government had said the envoy would respond "robustly" to
   any criticism and call for Iran to respect human rights.
   Iran's  state-run  Press TV quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
   as  saying  Britain will receive a "punch on the mouth" if it does not
   stop its "nonsense," as he put it.
   Tehran  also  says  Western  nations  are miscalculating if they think
   thousands of opposition protesters represent Iran's population of tens
   of millions of people.

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

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