Iranian election protests: Obama reacts with concern

Violent clashes have taken place in the country after opponents of President Ahmadinejad protested against his re-election, amidst claims that last Friday's vote was rigged.

Yesterday hundreds of thousands of people took part in an illegal protest with rival candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi who has contested the result.

US President Barack Obama has said, "It is up to Iranians to make decisions about who Iran's leaders will be."

"I am deeply troubled by the violence I have been seeing."

While being careful not to appear to take sides in the ongoing conflict, President Obama noted that, "There appears to be a sense on the part of people who were so hopeful, so engaged and so committed to democracy, who now feel betrayed."

The Council of the European Union said, "This is a matter that the Iranian authorities must address and investigate."

The Council also said it had "serious concern" about political violence, especially when committed against peaceful demonstrators.

It added, "It is essential that the aspirations of the Iranian people are achieved through peaceful means and that freedom of expression is respected."