G8 presses Iran, calls for Mideast calm -Lavrov

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) The Group of Eight industrialised countries called on Iran today to give a clear answer to an offer by major powers over its nuclear programmes, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

''We expect in the swiftest possible time a concrete and official answer from Tehran to the offer,'' he told reporters.

Lavrov, speaking after foreign ministers from the G8 countries held talks in Moscow, also said the G8 called on all parties in the Middle East to calm the situation and return to talks as Israel prepared for an offensive in Gaza aimed at freeing an abducted soldier.

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