AFP ,Tokyo, June 16, 2009 – Japan on Tuesday voiced concern over street violence in Iran triggered by the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad at the weekend.
’We are extremely concerned about the confusion in Iran. We are carefully monitoring the situation,’ said Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.
’We hear about shootings. We hope that the situation will come to an end as soon as possible,’ Nakasone told a regular press conference.
Hundreds of thousands of protestors have staged street protests in Tehran, questioning Ahamdinejad’s victory and alleging voter fraud, while police have attempted to suppress the rallies.
A local radio station reported that seven people were killed and several wounded when a military post was attacked near a rally Monday in Tehran.
Nakasone was speaking hours after US President Barack Obama said he was ’deeply troubled’ by the situation in Iran.
Iran is the number-three source of oil for energy-poor Japan, which has maintained cordial ties with Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the pro-Western shah.