Mousavi, to be tried?
Photo: AP
Mousavi supporters in Tehran riots
Photo: AP
Hardliners call for Mousavi to be prosecuted
Iranian parliament member among several lawmakers preparing to write to judiciary complaining about defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi's activities after disputed elections says 'those who hold illegal rallies should be legally pursued'
Iranian hardliners pressed on Thursday for legal action against moderate leaders accused of inciting post-election turmoil that has dimmed Western hopes of engaging Tehran on its disputed nuclear program.
"Those who hold illegal rallies and gatherings should be legally pursued," parliament member Mohammad Taghi Rahbar was quoted as saying by the hardline Javan newspaper.
It said he was among several lawmakers preparing to write to the judiciary complaining about defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi's activities after the disputed June 12 election.
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The student branch of the pro-government Basij militia, which helped police suppress street protests after the vote, has also urged the attorney-general to take Mousavi to court.
The authorities have blamed Mousavi, a moderate former prime minister, for last month's violence, in which at least 20 people were killed. Mousavi, who says the poll was rigged in favor of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, rejects the charge.
Mousavi and another losing candidate, pro-reform cleric Mehdi Karoubi, again denounced the election result on Wednesday and said Ahmadinejad's next cabinet would be illegitimate.
Despite their defiance, analysts say they have few practical options after Iran's top legislative body on Monday certified results showing Ahmadinejad had won re-election by a landslide.
The clerical leadership is likely to ignore the reformers and keep backing Ahmadinejad, who enjoys the public support of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top authority.
The semi-official Fars news agency said seven people linked to "anti-revolutionary" groups had been detained for taking part in "riots and unrest" in Tehran and the northwestern city of Qazvin.
Iran's police chief said on Wednesday 1,032 people had been detained during the protests in Tehran, but most had been freed.
