Iran's Mousavi Urges More Protests

The politician at the centre of Iran's opposition movement has called on his supporters to continue their protests over the country's disputed presidential election in the face of a growing security crackdown.

In a statement released on Sunday, Mir Hossein Mousavi said that people had the right to protest against "lies and fraud", but urged them to show restraint as they take to the streets.

Mousavi's statement, published on the website of his Kalameh newspaper and on sites run by supporters, came as police imposed a virtual lockdown on the streets of Tehran amid reports of fresh clashes in the north of the city.

State media has said between 10 and 13 people were killed in protests on Saturday against the government, but independent confirmation is difficult because the government has imposed severe restrictions on foreign journalists.

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In the latest crackdowns on reporters a BBC correspondent has been expelled from the country, the Dubai-based TV network Al-Arabiya has been suspended and at least two local journalists for US magazines have been arrested.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's conservative incumbent president, was declared the winner of the June 12 presidential election with a landslide victory, but Mousavi and another challenger have complained that the vote was rigged.

On Sunday, reports emerged of police attacking a vigil by about 100 people outside the offices of the United Nations in Tehran.

The incident was the first violence since Saturday, when several people were killed in clashes between protesters and police around Revolution Square and Azadi Square in the centre of the Iranian capital.

In his statement, Mousavi said he would stand by the protesters "at all times" but also called on his supporters to exercise "self-restraint".


Five members of Rafsanjani's family were arrested after Saturday's protests [EPA]
"The revolution is your legacy. To protest against lies and fraud is your right. Be hopeful that you will get your right and do not allow others who want to provoke your anger … to prevail."

Underscoring the escalating political crisis, the government said it had arrested the daughter and four other relatives of Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and one of the country's most powerful ayatollahs.