LONDON

France has summoned the Iranian ambassador to denounce Iranian authorities who "indiscriminately targeted peaceful protesters," according to media reports Tuesday.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers that he summoned Mohammad Amin-Nejad to denounce "state violence."

The repression of the demonstrations that have been facing in Iran since Dec. 28 is "intolerable, unbearable, and inhumane," Barrot was quoted by French broadcaster BFMTV.

"There can be no impunity for those who turn their guns against peaceful protesters," he said.

Iran has been rocked by protests since late December, beginning at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, amid a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. Demonstrations later spread to several cities across the country.

There are no official casualty figures, but HRANA, a US-based rights group, said at least 646 people have been killed, including security forces and protesters, with more than 1,000 injured.

The group also reported that at least 10,681 people have been detained during protests at 585 locations nationwide, including 186 cities across all 31 provinces.