WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Agence France-Presse) - The United States urged Azerbaijan on Monday to punish those behind a violent crackdown over the weekend against supporters of the political opposition.

"We would expect that the government of Azerbaijan hold to account those responsible for the violence against peaceful protesters," said the State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack.

The opposition rally on Saturday protested the recent parliamentary elections, which gave a landslide victory to the party of President Ilham Aliyev. Scores of people were injured when police officers used truncheons, tear gas and water cannons to disperse 10,000 demonstrators.

Azerbaijan's opposition has accused the international community of toning down its criticism of the government because of Western military and energy interests in Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic.