G-8 Deplores Violence in Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama, second from left, is flanked by Italian Gen. Rolando Mosca Moschini...

U.S. President Barack Obama, second from left, is flanked by Italian Gen. Rolando Mosca Moschini (Military and Defence Presidential Advisor), as they review the honor guard prior to his meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Obama is in Italy to attend the G8 (Group of Eight) Summit in L'Aquila from July 8 to July 10. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

(AP)

Group of Eight leaders said Wednesday that they deplored the violence in the aftermath of Iran's disputed election last month, but added they remained committed to seeking a diplomatic solution to Iran's contentious nuclear program.

In a series of declarations on global security threats, the G-8 also condemned "in the strongest terms" North Korea's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches in defiance of U.N resolutions. And they urged Afghanistan to ensure credible elections next month.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the statement on Tehran by G-8 leaders "shows the unity of the G-8 against the situation in Iran." But the leaders stopped short of calling for new sanctions or tougher action.

The U.S. portrayed the statement as aggressive, even though the leaders took a weaker, compromise approach that specified no potential action against Iran for its post-election crackdown.

Obama's undersecretary of state for political affairs, William Burns, said the agreed-upon language is "significant in that you have all eight members of the group indicating they have serious concern."

"I think it's a strong statement and it reflects a real sense of urgency," Burns said.

The G-8 leaders devoted a working dinner Wednesday to foreign policy issues, inviting to the table European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency.

The leaders said they remained "seriously concerned" about Iran's crackdown of protests following a contentious election last month where incumbent President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad declared victory.

The statement said G-8 leaders "deplore post-electoral violence, which led to the loss of lives of Iranian civilians." They also "condemn the declarations of President Ahmadinejad denying the Holocaust."

G-8 leaders said they welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's willingness to engage in direct talks with Tehran.