Iranian opposition appeared in streets after Rafsanjani's sermon

July 17, 2009 - 21:04 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Several thousand proponents of defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi held spontaneous demonstration on Friday, July 17, after the sermon of ex-president and influential politician Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.



Earlier, the police fired tear gas beat supporters to disperse them from near Tehran university where Rafsanjani was making a speech. Eyewitnesses say 15 people were arrested.



Defeated by incumbent President Ahmadinejad in 2005 presidential elections, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani actively backed Moussavi during his presidential campaign. In his speech, Rafsanjani said many Iranians had doubts about the official result of the June 12 vote and called on authorities to take measures restore public trust. Rafsanjani also demanded the immediate release of people detained in the unrest, Reuters reports.
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