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Death demanded for Iran dissidents

Ap
Friday 18 February 2011 15:25 GMT
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Thousands of government supporters have called for the execution of opposition leaders at Friday prayers in the Iranian capital Tehran, following last week's anti-government demonstrations.

Hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that the opposition leaders have lost their reputation among people and are practically "dead and executed," while worshippers chanted for their actual executions.

Janati proposed more restrictions on Mir Hossein Mousavi on Mahdi Karroubi, opposition leaders who are under house arrest, but still managed to organise the largest opposition protest in more than a year on Monday.

"Their communications with people should be completely cut. They should not be able to receive and send message. Their phone lines and internet should be cut. They should be prisoners in their home," he said.

The head of Iran's judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani has said opposition leaders would be prevented from communicating with their supporters and a possible trial was still on the agenda.

Karroubi's website, Sahamnews.net, quoted him as saying he was ready to stand trial.

The opposition demonstrations on Monday aimed at showing solidarity with Egypt's uprising, but turned into a major opposition rally. Two people were killed in clashes with police.

Mousavi and Karroubi are leaders of a protest movement that grew out of the disputed presidential election in 2009 in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters poured into the streets after the re-election of Ahmadinejad, calling it fraudulent. The opposition said scores were killed after the massive government crackdown. Dozens of opposition members were jailed.

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