Guarded response to Iran's election

It comes after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed a landslide victory in presidential elections.

There were clashes on the streets of Tehran on Saturday between police and supporters of leading opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

He had branded the election result a "dangerous charade" that would establish tyranny in Iran.

But responses in capitals around the world to the opposition claims of vote-rigging were guarded.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the allegations were for the authorities in Tehran to address, adding that his priority was to see Iran engage with the world community, particularly on the issue of its nuclear ambitions.

"We have followed carefully, and admired, the passion and debate during the Iranian election campaign," said Mr Miliband in a statement released by the Foreign Office in London.

"We note the result as announced by the Iranian Electoral Commission. We have also heard the concerns about the counting of ballots expressed by two of the candidates. This is a matter for the Iranian authorities to address. We will continue to follow developments."

The European Union expressed concern about alleged irregularities, but said it hoped to resume dialogue with Tehran about its disputed nuclear programme, which Iran insists is only for civilian use. And US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said America was "waiting and watching to see what the Iranian people decide".

A few hundred opponents of Tehran's clerical regime protested outside the Iranian embassy in London on Saturday night.