Iran condemns foreign interference in Arab Spring uprisings

Iran is against any foreign interference in the domestic affairs of Arab countries engulfed by popular uprisings, but urges the governments of these states to react to civilian demands, the Iranian foreign minister said on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said at a meeting in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Iran "condemns any foreign interference into their domestic affairs. The statement comes shortly after British Foreign Secretary William Hague called for stronger international pressure on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and said military intervention was "not a remote possibility." "At the same time, the governments of these countries should meet the demands of their people," Salehi added. Iran has repeatedly criticized Western states for "inciting and exploiting" unrest in Syria. Syria has been rocked by mass protests demanding reforms and the resignation of al-Assad for almost six months. Pressure from international powers has mounted to end the crackdown. About 2,000 civilians are thought to have been killed since protests began in the southern city of Deraa in mid-March. According to government data, over 500 servicemen and security officers were also killed.