Saturday 29 August 2009

Ahmadinejad: Riot Leaders and Instigators Should Be Punished



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28/08/2009 Iran's President Mamoud Ahmadinejad called for the first time on Friday for the punishment of riot leaders over the unrest unleashed by the presidential elections. "Serious confrontation should take place with the leaders and main instigators of the incidents. Those who provoked, organized and implemented the enemy's line should be confronted firmly," Ahmadinejad said in a speech at Tehran Friday prayers carried live on state radio.

"Those from lower ranks and the ones who were deceived should be treated with Islamic compassion," Ahmadinejad added, drawing chants of "riot leaders should be executed" from the worshippers.

Iran faced its worst crisis since the establishment of the Islamic republic in 1979 when hundreds of thousands took to the streets in week-long protests against the June 12 poll results during which about 30 people were killed. About 4,000 people were initially arrested.

Iran jailed several prison guards and vowed to prosecute them but the president on Friday pointed an accusing finger at Iran's foreign enemies and the "overthrowing movement" over attacks on university dormitories and prisoner abuse. "What happened in the dorms and detention centers was part of the enemy's scenario carried out by the dependants of the overthrowing movement," he charged. "Revolutionary forces are innocent of such shameful acts. "Our basijis were beaten up in the street as they were protecting people's rights," he said.

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