Tokyo - Japan urged Iran to resolve the current situation in a peaceful manner and expressed concern over the clashes between demonstrators and police after the disputed June 12 presidential election.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone expressed strong concerns that the number of deaths has risen in the conflicts.

"A situation that produces casualties should be avoided and our country strongly calls for a peaceful resolution," Nakasone said.

While Japan would continue close monitoring of the development in Iran, Nakasone said that it was important to "appropriately respect various opinions and speeches."

Iran's official media reported that at least 10 people were killed in Saturday's clashes between government security forces and opposition protestors.

In addition to the seven previously reported killed in earlier demos, the death toll rose to at least 17 in the violence since the June 12 polls, in which incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a 63-per-cent landslide victory, according to official results.

Supporters of opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Moussavi accuse the government of vote-rigging. (dpa)