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| Call for Iran protesters' release | Call for Iran protesters' release |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani has called for the release of people jailed after protesting at the result of the recent election. | |
| In his first Friday sermon since the vote, he also said large numbers of Iranians still doubted its result. | In his first Friday sermon since the vote, he also said large numbers of Iranians still doubted its result. |
| Iranian police fired tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered for prayers at Tehran University. | |
| There were chants of support for defeated election candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who attended the prayers. | |
| Mr Mousavi has demanded a re-run of the vote and described the new government as illegitimate. | |
| IRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraudMass street protests saw at least 20 people killed, hundreds arrested, and foreign media restricted Q&A: Election aftermath Guide: How Iran is ruled Send us your comments | IRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraudMass street protests saw at least 20 people killed, hundreds arrested, and foreign media restricted Q&A: Election aftermath Guide: How Iran is ruled Send us your comments |
| Thousands of his supporters gathered in the streets of Tehran after Friday prayers - the first large opposition rally for more than a week. | |
| This followed warnings from a minister against turning the occasion into a "stage for undesirable scenes". | |
| Mr Rafsanjani is a key power-broker in Iranian politics and has been a backer of Mr Mousavi. | |
| During his sermon, broadcast live on state radio, he said something had to be done to allay people's doubts about the recent election result. | |
| "In the current situation it is not necessary for us to have a number of people in prisons... we should allow them to return to their families," he said. | "In the current situation it is not necessary for us to have a number of people in prisons... we should allow them to return to their families," he said. |
| "We are all members of a family. I hope with this sermon we can pass through this period of hardships that can be called a crisis." | "We are all members of a family. I hope with this sermon we can pass through this period of hardships that can be called a crisis." |
| Mr Rafsanjani also appealed for an open debate on radio and TV about the disputed 12 June election and called for media restrictions to be eased. | |
| "It is not necessary to pressure media. We should allow them to work freely within the law," he said. | |
| Call for vigilance | Call for vigilance |
| Mr Rafsanjani's comments came very close to a direct challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's most senior political figure, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne who was ordered out of Iran last month. | |
| Tehran University sermon | Tehran University sermon |
| It was the first time in two months that Mr Rafsanjani had led weekly prayers at Tehran University. | |
| Although he did not voice his opinion during the unrest that followed the election, members of his family - including his daughter Faezeh - openly supported Mr Mousavi. | Although he did not voice his opinion during the unrest that followed the election, members of his family - including his daughter Faezeh - openly supported Mr Mousavi. |
| It could be a key moment in the confrontation between Mr Ahmadinejad's government and members of the opposition, our correspondent says. | |
| Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi on Thursday urged the "wise Iranian people" to be "vigilant that the Friday prayers not be turned into a stage for undesirable scenes". | Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi on Thursday urged the "wise Iranian people" to be "vigilant that the Friday prayers not be turned into a stage for undesirable scenes". |
| Defiant | |
| Violent street protests broke out in Iran amid accusations of fraud after President Ahmadinejad was re-elected. | |
| At least 20 people died and hundreds were arrested in the days that followed the poll. | At least 20 people died and hundreds were arrested in the days that followed the poll. |
| Ayatollah Khamenei upheld Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's landslide victory and demanded an end to protests. | |
| Despite this, Mr Mousavi has remained defiant. | |
| Announcing his decision to attend Friday prayers, Mr Mousavi said on his website, "I feel obliged to respond to the call of companions on the path to protecting rights to a noble and free life". | Announcing his decision to attend Friday prayers, Mr Mousavi said on his website, "I feel obliged to respond to the call of companions on the path to protecting rights to a noble and free life". |
| Are you in Iran? What do you think Mr Rafsanjani will say in his first sermon since the election? How do you think Mr Mousavi will be received? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Iran? What do you think Mr Rafsanjani will say in his first sermon since the election? How do you think Mr Mousavi will be received? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |