US President Obama to Iran: Stop Violence and Unjust Actions

Under tremendous pressure from critics for his cautious stance on the violent confrontation between Iranian authorities and supporters of Presidential aspirant Hossein Mousavi, US President Obama yesterday called on the government of Iran to ‘stop all violent and unjust actions against own people’, amid heightened actions by protesters and Iranian authorities. "The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights," Obama said in a written statement. The Iranian government is currently dealing with on-going protests by supporters of presidential candidate, Hossein Mousavi who earlier claimed the recently concluded election was rigged and demanded that the result be nullified. Earlier the supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Khameinei announced that the government will look into the vote rigging complains by the opposition in the disputed election. Over the weekend though, he asked the people to support the current sitting president saying that he was voted by a great majority of the people. At least 13 people have reportedly been killed in a week-long violence while thousands others have been injured as they fought with policemen in the Iranian capital. Fox news reports:

"The Obama administration took a first step today," California Rep. Darrell Issa told FOX News. "Obviously, Congress was well ahead of the president. I think the president is playing catch-up."

Issa said the president, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Obama officials should make a series of additional statements to demonstrate when the United States stands.

"You have to support these people whose aspirations are only freedom," he said.

The US president is expected to issue more specific statements on the Iranian issue as the situation unfolds in the coming days.