US Capitol, Washington DC

U.S. lawmakers have passed a resolution condemning the crackdown on Iranian demonstrators and the curbs on news media and communications in the country.  

The House of Representatives voted 405 to 1 in favor of the resolution that condemns what it calls "the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the government of Iran and pro-government militias."

The resolution is the sharpest rebuke yet from U.S. officials following days of more cautious statements from the Obama administration on the disputed election. The resolution's main backers have been lobbying the administration to take a stronger stand against the Iranian government's crackdown on protesters.

Earlier, the European Union raised "serious concern" about the Iranian government's response to demonstrators questioning the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.

EU leaders released a joint statement Friday urging the Iranian government to allow all citizens the right to assemble and express themselves peacefully.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned violence and government curbs on news media.  He said it is now up to Iranian officials to show the world that the elections have been fair.

On Friday, Iran's supreme leader addressed a crowd of supporters in Tehran, warning protesters against holding more rallies.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the remarks "rather disappointing."

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also defended the election results and condemned what he called interference by foreigners questioning the election outcome.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.