Washington, June 26 (DPA) US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Iran Friday to end violence against protesters and underscored their commitment to prevent the Islamic state from developing a nuclear weapon.
Merkel called the crisis playing out on the streets of Iran “horrifying”, while Obama refused to give in to Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s demand for an apology for allegedly interfering in the elections and subsequent mass protests.
“I don’t take Mr Ahmadinejad’s statements seriously about apologies, particularly given the fact that the United States has gone out of its way not to interfere with the election process in Iran,” Obama said.
“I would suggest that Mr Ahmadinejad think carefully about the obligations he owes to his own people,” Obama added. “And he might want to consider looking at the families of those who’ve been beaten or shot or detained.”
Merkel emphasised that universal rights of freedom of expression should apply to Iranian citizens and called on the government to respect human rights.
“The Iranian people need to be given the right to peaceful demonstrations, the Iranian people have the right to have their votes counted and the election results substantiated,” Merkel said, speaking in German.
The two leaders were speaking after a meeting in the White House.
