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Italy urges G8 firmness on Iran Italy urges G8 firmness on Iran
(29 minutes later)
Italy's foreign minister has said G8 countries will adopt a "tough" stance towards Iran over post-election unrest.Italy's foreign minister has said G8 countries will adopt a "tough" stance towards Iran over post-election unrest.
Franco Frattini was speaking as G8 foreign minsters prepared to meet for three days of talks in northern Italy.Franco Frattini was speaking as G8 foreign minsters prepared to meet for three days of talks in northern Italy.
He said the international community had offered an "open hand" to Iran and G8 must now "be firm in its condemnation", Italy's Ansa news agency reported. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that isolating Iran would be the "wrong approach" for the G8.
Iran was invited to the talks, which had been due to focus on Afghanistan, but Italy later revoked the offer. Iran is no longer expected to attend the talks, which had been due to focus on the future stability of its neighbour, Afghanistan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki withdrew at the last minute after Italy made it clear he was not welcome.Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki withdrew at the last minute after Italy made it clear he was not welcome.
Earlier this week he said he had "no plans to travel to Italy".Earlier this week he said he had "no plans to travel to Italy".
Mr Frattini said Iran was "at a turning point" following the post-election street clashes, in which at least 17 people have been killed.Mr Frattini said Iran was "at a turning point" following the post-election street clashes, in which at least 17 people have been killed.
''It must choose whether or not to keep the door open to dialogue with the international community," he said.''It must choose whether or not to keep the door open to dialogue with the international community," he said.
"The hand extended by the United States, which we have supported, cannot come back with blood on it."The hand extended by the United States, which we have supported, cannot come back with blood on it.
''We will adopt a particularly tough and clear position."''We will adopt a particularly tough and clear position."
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said a draft statement would be examined by ministers at a working dinner on Thursday evening, but there was not yet full agreement on its content. But after a meeting with Mr Frattini, Mr Lavrov said "no-one" wanted to condemn Tehran and that isolating Iran was "the wrong approach".
Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said a draft statement would be examined by ministers at a working dinner on Thursday evening, but there was not yet full agreement on its content.
"Not everyone is in favour of condemnation, but we do need a firm statement in Trieste. We will do this," he told reporters in Paris before leaving for Italy."Not everyone is in favour of condemnation, but we do need a firm statement in Trieste. We will do this," he told reporters in Paris before leaving for Italy.
'Future engagement''Future engagement'
At least 25 people are thought to have died in post-election violenceAt least 25 people are thought to have died in post-election violence
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome says a consensus appears to be forming that a strong and united international response is needed on Iran, but it remains to be seen whether Russia and China would support such a move. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome says it remains to be seen whether Russia and China would support a strong statement on Iran, but a consensus appears to be forming that a strong and united international response is needed.
The three-day G8 Trieste summit is expected to address global security, nuclear non-proliferation, piracy and combating extremist violence.The three-day G8 Trieste summit is expected to address global security, nuclear non-proliferation, piracy and combating extremist violence.
Its primary focus was intended to be the stabilisation of Afghanistan so Iran, as a neighbouring country, had been invited to attend.Its primary focus was intended to be the stabilisation of Afghanistan so Iran, as a neighbouring country, had been invited to attend.
But the recent unrest in Iran, which is thought to have left at least 25 people dead, has changed the agenda of the talks.But the recent unrest in Iran, which is thought to have left at least 25 people dead, has changed the agenda of the talks.
Tehran, which will not attend the summit, says the protests are illegal and the election result is accurate. Tehran says the protests are illegal and the election result is accurate.
The talks would have offered a rare chance for G8 ministers to meet senior Iranian diplomats to discuss the country's controversial nuclear programme, says our correspondent.The talks would have offered a rare chance for G8 ministers to meet senior Iranian diplomats to discuss the country's controversial nuclear programme, says our correspondent.
On Wednesday, Mr Frattini met Iran's charge d'affaires in Rome to discuss Mr Mottaki's absence from the talks, the AFP news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying.On Wednesday, Mr Frattini met Iran's charge d'affaires in Rome to discuss Mr Mottaki's absence from the talks, the AFP news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying.
Rome said it hoped that "in the future Iran will be able to engage in a profitable way in the process of regional stabilisation in Afghanistan".Rome said it hoped that "in the future Iran will be able to engage in a profitable way in the process of regional stabilisation in Afghanistan".