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| Iranian leader addresses nation | Iranian leader addresses nation |
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| Iran's Supreme Leader is addressing the nation for the first time since disputed election results sparked huge protests in the capital, Tehran. | Iran's Supreme Leader is addressing the nation for the first time since disputed election results sparked huge protests in the capital, Tehran. |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who backs the re-election of President Ahmadinejad, appealed for calm and urged Iranians to remain devout. | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who backs the re-election of President Ahmadinejad, appealed for calm and urged Iranians to remain devout. |
| Thousands of people packed into Tehran University to hear him speak. | Thousands of people packed into Tehran University to hear him speak. |
| The opposition has called off a rally planned for later, after four straight days of demonstrations. | The opposition has called off a rally planned for later, after four straight days of demonstrations. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the ayatollah's address after Friday prayers is going to be a crucial moment in the crisis. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the ayatollah's address after Friday prayers is going to be a crucial moment in the crisis. |
| LATEST FROM TEHRAN Jon Leyne | LATEST FROM TEHRAN Jon Leyne |
| The government needs to turn out as many people as possible - to show they can rally as many supporters as the opposition - so they've been putting out appeals on state media constantly, offering free transport, calling on people to turn up, not just to Friday prayers but to an "anti-riot rally", as they describe it. | The government needs to turn out as many people as possible - to show they can rally as many supporters as the opposition - so they've been putting out appeals on state media constantly, offering free transport, calling on people to turn up, not just to Friday prayers but to an "anti-riot rally", as they describe it. |
| From the Supreme Leader the key thing is, which way does he go - does he offer a message of conciliation, and is that followed up by conciliatory gestures, or conversely, does he go for a very hardline message which will signal a crackdown? | From the Supreme Leader the key thing is, which way does he go - does he offer a message of conciliation, and is that followed up by conciliatory gestures, or conversely, does he go for a very hardline message which will signal a crackdown? |
| It will be the first public appearance by the supreme leader since he gave his unequivocal backing to the election result and President Ahmadinejad. | It will be the first public appearance by the supreme leader since he gave his unequivocal backing to the election result and President Ahmadinejad. |
| Everyone in Iran will be watching to see whether Ayatollah Khamenei offers a message of conciliation to the opposition, or signals the major crackdown many people fear. | Everyone in Iran will be watching to see whether Ayatollah Khamenei offers a message of conciliation to the opposition, or signals the major crackdown many people fear. |
| Under the republic's constitution, the supreme leader has unfettered power to run the country and shape policy. | Under the republic's constitution, the supreme leader has unfettered power to run the country and shape policy. |
| The Ayatollah's appearance follows days of rallies by backers of presidential rival Mir Hossein Mousavi, who believe the vote was fixed. | The Ayatollah's appearance follows days of rallies by backers of presidential rival Mir Hossein Mousavi, who believe the vote was fixed. |
| On Thursday, more than 100,000 people attended a "day of mourning" rally in Tehran, called by Mr Mousavi, to commemorate up to eight people killed during protests earlier in the week. | On Thursday, more than 100,000 people attended a "day of mourning" rally in Tehran, called by Mr Mousavi, to commemorate up to eight people killed during protests earlier in the week. |
| A protest planned for Friday has been called off, but the opposition says it will return to the streets on Saturday. | A protest planned for Friday has been called off, but the opposition says it will return to the streets on Saturday. |
| Government clampdown | Government clampdown |
| The rallying cry of the protesters has been "death to the dictator" - a chant surely directed at Ayatollah Khamenei, our correspondent says. | The rallying cry of the protesters has been "death to the dictator" - a chant surely directed at Ayatollah Khamenei, our correspondent says. |
| Whether the protesters understand it or not, he says, they are implicitly challenging the whole system. | Whether the protesters understand it or not, he says, they are implicitly challenging the whole system. |
| Iranian voices: Peaceful protests In pictures: March of mourning Analysis: Titanic struggle Reporters' log | Iranian voices: Peaceful protests In pictures: March of mourning Analysis: Titanic struggle Reporters' log |
| Hundreds of thousands of Mr Mousavi's supporters have taken to the streets this week in several mass rallies - the biggest protests in the Islamic republic's 30-year history. | Hundreds of thousands of Mr Mousavi's supporters have taken to the streets this week in several mass rallies - the biggest protests in the Islamic republic's 30-year history. |
| Those who died were killed when the protesters surrounded a compound occupied by a militia that backs the government on Monday. | Those who died were killed when the protesters surrounded a compound occupied by a militia that backs the government on Monday. |
| And the unrest has spurred the authorities to clamp down on dissent by blocking websites, restricting journalists and arresting dozens - possibly hundreds - of activists they regard as opponents. | And the unrest has spurred the authorities to clamp down on dissent by blocking websites, restricting journalists and arresting dozens - possibly hundreds - of activists they regard as opponents. |
| Mr Mousavi and two other candidates in the election have made more than 600 complaints to the Guardian Council - the main electoral authority. | Mr Mousavi and two other candidates in the election have made more than 600 complaints to the Guardian Council - the main electoral authority. |
| The objections include a shortage of ballot papers, voters being pressurised to support a particular candidate and the barring of candidates' representatives from polling stations. | The objections include a shortage of ballot papers, voters being pressurised to support a particular candidate and the barring of candidates' representatives from polling stations. |
| The council has invited the three to a meeting to discuss their objections on Saturday. | The council has invited the three to a meeting to discuss their objections on Saturday. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad defended his election win in a televised address on Thursday - which correspondents say is a sign he is taking the protesters more seriously. | Mr Ahmadinejad defended his election win in a televised address on Thursday - which correspondents say is a sign he is taking the protesters more seriously. |
| "In this election, victory belonged to 70 million Iranians and the 40 million who took part in voting. Everyone is a winner," he said. | "In this election, victory belonged to 70 million Iranians and the 40 million who took part in voting. Everyone is a winner," he said. |
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