AFP: Canada’s foreign minister on Tuesday accused Iranian authorities of “hypocrisy” for cracking down on anti-government protests while calling for democracy in Egypt.
OTTAWA, February 15, 2011 (AFP) – Canada’s foreign minister on Tuesday accused Iranian authorities of “hypocrisy” for cracking down on anti-government protests while calling for democracy in Egypt.
“Canada is deeply concerned by the violence perpetrated by Iranian authorities against peaceful protestors in Tehran,” Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement.
“The hypocrisy of Iranian authorities’ calls for democracy in Egypt and suppression of the same demands in Iran is deeply disturbing.”
As well, the minister said Iranian politicians’ calls for the execution of protestors are “unacceptable” and he urged Iranian authorities to release “any protestors who are being unjustifiably detained.”
Riot police fired tear gas and paintballs at thousands of opposition supporters who took to Tehran’s streets on Monday, witnesses said.
Kazem Jalali, member of the parliamentary commission of national security and foreign policy, told ISNA news agency two people were killed.
