Iran's Israel remarks "damaging and uncivilized": EU

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Monday denounced statements by Iranian leaders against Israel as "unacceptable, damaging and uncivilized".

The EU's Slovenian presidency referred to remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, parliament Speaker Gholamali Haddadadel and Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Ali Jafari.

"Their comments pointed against Israel are unacceptable, damaging and uncivilized," it said. "The EU calls on Iran to stop hostile rhetoric and refrain from all threats towards other states, members of the international community."

Last Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon termed comments by Ahmadinejad a day earlier likening Israel to a "savage animal" inflammatory and unacceptable.

Iran does not recognize Israel and Ahmadinejad has often predicted the imminent demise of the Jewish state.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom)