ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguay's government is expressing "discomfort" over a tweet by the British ambassador to the South American country that reacted to the acquittal of peasants convicted in a land dispute.

The Supreme Court overturned the 2016 conviction of the 12 poor farmers Friday.

Six police officers and 11 peasants were killed in 2012 when clashes broke out during the forced eviction of peasants occupying a disputed soy farm.

British Ambassador Matthew Hedges tweeted: "How beautiful is the smile of freedom," above a photo of one of the freed men who is seen smiling and embracing a woman.

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga says he called in Hedges to express his discomfort over the message.

Hedges says he was only reacting to a "human moment" and he stands by his words.