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US hits back at Ahmadinejad claim US hits back at Ahmadinejad claim
(about 2 hours later)
The White House has accused Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of seeking to blame the US for unrest following Iran's disputed election.The White House has accused Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of seeking to blame the US for unrest following Iran's disputed election.
The US replied one day after Mr Ahmadinejad was sharply critical of President Barack Obama for condemning Iranian violence against protesters.The US replied one day after Mr Ahmadinejad was sharply critical of President Barack Obama for condemning Iranian violence against protesters.
Tehran's leadership has accused foreign governments of fuelling the protests.Tehran's leadership has accused foreign governments of fuelling the protests.
The Guardian Council said on Friday that, after a 10-day examination, it had seen no evidence of election fraud. Group of Eight foreign ministers, meeting in Italy, said they "deplored" the post-election violence in Iran.
In a draft statement, they urged Iran "to respect fundamental human rights" and settle the crisis "through democratic dialogue and peaceful means".
Earlier, Iran's Guardian Council said it had nearly finished examining the allegations of vote-rigging and had found no irregularities.
"We have had no fraud in any presidential election and this one was the cleanest election we have had," a spokesman for the election watchdog, Abbasali Kadkhodai, told the Irna news agency."We have had no fraud in any presidential election and this one was the cleanest election we have had," a spokesman for the election watchdog, Abbasali Kadkhodai, told the Irna news agency.
"I can say with certainty that there was no fraud in this election.""I can say with certainty that there was no fraud in this election."
G8 foreign ministers are expected to issue a statement later condemning the post-election violence in Iran. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian hardline cleric said in his Friday sermon that the leaders of the protests should be dealt with "severely and ruthlessly".
But the document is unlikely to be as strong as previously thought after objections from the Russians, a BBC correspondent at the meeting in Italy reports. "I want the judiciary to... punish leading rioters firmly and without showing any mercy to teach everyone a lesson," Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran university in comments broadcast nationwide.
War of wordsWar of words
In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Iran's president was attempting to deflect attention events at home.In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Iran's president was attempting to deflect attention events at home.
"There are people in Iran who want to make this not about a debate among Iranians in Iran, but about the West and the United States."There are people in Iran who want to make this not about a debate among Iranians in Iran, but about the West and the United States.
"I would add President Ahmadinejad to that list of people trying to make this about the United States," Mr Gibbs said."I would add President Ahmadinejad to that list of people trying to make this about the United States," Mr Gibbs said.
IRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled for electoral fraudStreet protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted Q&A: Election aftermath How Iran is ruled Who's who in Iran Iran: Send your questionsIRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled for electoral fraudStreet protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted Q&A: Election aftermath How Iran is ruled Who's who in Iran Iran: Send your questions
He was speaking in response to an angry statement made by Mr Ahmadinejad on Thursday. He told Mr Obama to avoid "interfering in Iran's affairs".He was speaking in response to an angry statement made by Mr Ahmadinejad on Thursday. He told Mr Obama to avoid "interfering in Iran's affairs".
"Our question is why he fell into this trap and said things that previously [former US President George W] Bush used to say," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying."Our question is why he fell into this trap and said things that previously [former US President George W] Bush used to say," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying.
President Obama on Tuesday made his strongest comments yet on the "unjust" violence used against the protesters in Iran.President Obama on Tuesday made his strongest comments yet on the "unjust" violence used against the protesters in Iran.
"The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings, and imprisonments of the last few days," he said."The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings, and imprisonments of the last few days," he said.
But despite the increasingly pointed rhetoric, the substance of the Obama policy remains towards Iran unchanged, says the BBC's Richard Lister in Washington. But despite the increasingly pointed rhetoric, the substance of the Obama policy towards Iran remains unchanged, says the BBC's Richard Lister in Washington.
The US regards its main priority as addressing Iran's nuclear programme and its support for militant groups, and Mr Obama has made clear repeatedly that the offer of talks with Tehran is still on the table, our correspondent adds.The US regards its main priority as addressing Iran's nuclear programme and its support for militant groups, and Mr Obama has made clear repeatedly that the offer of talks with Tehran is still on the table, our correspondent adds.
Compromise statementCompromise statement
Some Western nations are continuing to criticise Iran's handling of the crisis.Some Western nations are continuing to criticise Iran's handling of the crisis.
Tensions between Iran and the UK are already strained after Tehran accused Britain of inflaming the protests - charges London denies.Tensions between Iran and the UK are already strained after Tehran accused Britain of inflaming the protests - charges London denies.
At the G8 meeting in Trieste, foreign ministers are finalising a statement on the crisis in Iran. "We deplore post-electoral violence which led to the loss of lives of Iranian civilians," the draft statement from the meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Trieste said.
Italy had earlier called for a tough response, but Russia has argued that Iran should not be isolated and engagement is key. "We call on the Iranian government to guarantee that the will of the Iranian people is reflected in the electoral process," it went on.
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Trieste says ministers are having to find a choice of words that convey's the anger of the world community whilst keeping the door open to Iranian engagement. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Trieste said a compromise on the form of words was worked on after objections from Russia, who said Iran should not be isolated.
In Iran itself, defeated presidential candidate and protest figurehead Mir Hossein Mousavi on Thursday accused those behind the alleged "rigged" elections of being responsible for the bloodshed during the protests.In Iran itself, defeated presidential candidate and protest figurehead Mir Hossein Mousavi on Thursday accused those behind the alleged "rigged" elections of being responsible for the bloodshed during the protests.
He complained of "complete" restrictions on his access to people and a crackdown on his media group.He complained of "complete" restrictions on his access to people and a crackdown on his media group.
At least 25 people - including eight members of the pro-government Basij militia - are reported to have been killed and dozens more wounded in the protests since the disputed election on 12 June.At least 25 people - including eight members of the pro-government Basij militia - are reported to have been killed and dozens more wounded in the protests since the disputed election on 12 June.
The figures cannot be verified due to severe reporting restrictions inside Iran.The figures cannot be verified due to severe reporting restrictions inside Iran.