Murray McCully

Wellington, June 16 NZPA - Foreign Minister Murray McCully has urged Iranian authorities to show restraint as post-election protests escalate in Tehran.

"The New Zealand Government is concerned at the reports coming out of Iran of mounting violence and calls on all involved to help restore calm," he said in a statement.

"Reports are still sketchy but the allegations of government security forces shooting at unarmed protesters are particularly alarming."

Mr McCully said use of force would only deepen the anger expressed by many Iranians over whether President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's claim to victory was an accurate reflection of the vote on June 12.

"New Zealand shares the view of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and several European leaders, that the election process needs to be carefully explained."