G8 urges Iran to suspend enrichment

KYOTO (AFP) — Group of Eight foreign ministers urged Iran on Friday to suspend uranium enrichment and "act in a more responsible and constructive manner in the region," a call dismissed in Tehran as double-speak.

The industrial powers -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States -- said they "strongly urge" Iran to cooperate fully with the UN International Atomic Energy Agency.

"We also urge Iran to act in a more responsible and constructive manner in the region, particularly in the context of the Middle East peace process and the stability of Iraq and Afghanistan," said a statement after talks in Japan.

Western powers have been ramping up pressure on Iran for refusing to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment, a process which can be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Tehran denies wanting to make an atomic bomb, saying its nuclear programme is purely peaceful and to ...