Iran proposes peacekeepers for London

Tehran notes the "crimes and brutality" continue in London at the hands of the "despotic monarchy" and said it was time to send in peacekeepers.

Iran has lobbed criticism against the British government as rioters laid siege to the streets of London in recent days.

The French Ministry of Interior offered to send police officers with extensive "expertise" in catching rioters, The Daily Telegraph in London reported Friday.

More than 1,500 people have been arrested for participating in looting and property destruction in the United Kingdom. At least five people were killed, including an elderly man beaten by looters.

French officials said British police failed to enforce proper cordons to contain rioters and the officers didn't have proper safety gear to protect themselves.

Reza Naghdi, a senior commander of Iran's paramilitary Basij forces, said he was ready to send peacekeepers to London to control the violence. He condemned British officials for blaming the violence on looters, whereas Tehran viewed the situation as a public demonstration, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reports.

"Much to our regret the crimes and brutality of despotic British monarchy against the country's oppressed continues," he was quoted as saying.

British officials early this week had rapped Tehran for repressing the media and silencing opposition voices.

Iran responded with force when supporters of the so-called Green Movement took to the streets to protest the 2009 re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Source: UPI