World Reaction to Iran’s Election Outcome

There has been a wide range of reactions to the Iranian presidential election. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman called the election "fundamentally flawed" and "out of step" with democratic developments in region. A spokesman for European Union's foreign policy and security chief, Javier Solana said in Brussels the EU is willing to work with any Iranian government that is willing to make progress on issues like human rights and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. But he also expressed regret that many candidates were excluded from running. Russian President Vladimir Putin offered congratulations to Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said Russia is ready to continue working to develop nuclear power plants with Iran. But a spokeswoman in Paris for an Iranian resistance group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran called Ahmadinejad an "extremist." She said the election was proof of the failure of an appeasement policy of Western governments.