U.S. expresses concerns about Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent cleric

The U.S. government on Saturday voiced its concerns about Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 people on terror charges, particularly an influential Shi'ite cleric.

"We reaffirm our calls to the Government of Saudi Arabia ... to ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings in all cases," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

Kirby urged Saudi government to "work together with all community leaders to defuse tensions in the wake of these executions."

The U.S. statement was issued after Saudi Interior Ministry announced earlier Saturday the execution of 47 people, including the prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Most of the executed were Saudis who were involved in a series of attacks carried out by al-Qaida from 2003-06. Nimr al-Nimr was a driving force behind anti-government protests that broke out in the country in 2011.

Saudi Arabia has been badly affected by terrorists and attacks, especially those who have been forming secret cells as part of the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The executions triggered angry protests outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran on Saturday by Iranians who condemned the execution of Nimr al-Nimr.

Some Molotov cocktails were thrown at the embassy, which was broken into by some protesters who were later dispersed by Iranian police. Endi