Ahmadinejad defends election victory amid rival's protest

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-15 10:12

Supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wave and jubilate during an election victory celebration rally in Tehran, capital of Iran, June 14, 2009. Thousands of Ahmadinejad's supporters gathered in Tehran's Vali-e- Asr Square to celebrate his victory on Sunday. [Xinhua]

Thousands of his supporters took to the streets in Tehran on Saturday to protest against the re-election of Ahmadinejad who has secured a second term for the next four years.

At least 10 leaders and more than 160 members of Iran's reformist groups have been arrested after violent protests against the results of Friday's presidential election, local media reported Sunday.

"With the verdict issued by the judiciary, 10 organizers of the Tehran's yesterday (Saturday) incidents were arrested in their headquarters," Iran's deputy police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.

Mousavi has appealed for Iran's Guardians Council to cancel the country's June 12 presidential election result, a statement posted on his website said on Sunday.

"Today, I wrote a letter to the Guardian Council asking them to cancel the result of the recent (presidential) election," Mousavi said in the statement.

"I again emphatically advise you to continue the civil and legal opposition throughout the country peacefully and observe non-confrontation principle," Mousavi said.

"We have asked the officials for a permission of a big rally in all cities of the country so that the people could have a chance to express their opposition to the way the election was held and to its results," he added.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has urged supporters of both the winner and the defeated candidates to avoid provocative behavior.

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