U.N. irked over Iranian suppression

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 8 (UPI) -- U.N. human-rights officials expressed "grave concern" over the suppression of Iranian opposition voices in the wake of the disputed June 12 election.

Protests turned violent in the days following the June 12 election that saw Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declaring a contested victory.

A joint statement by six of the top human-rights and judicial experts at the United Nations expressed concern over the reaction to protesters and opposition leaders by the conservative rulers in Tehran.

"The six experts reiterate their grave concern about reports of killings, ongoing arrests, use of excessive police force and the ill-treatment of detainees," the statement read.

The U.N. panel scrutinized the justification for the arrests of opposition leaders, journalists and other dissenters, saying it violates the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.

Scores of protesters were killed and hundreds were injured in clashes during the fallout from the June 12 election.

While Iranian officials claimed the majority of those held in custody from the protests were released, the U.N. council said it was concerned over the number of "arbitrary" detentions.