Iran's Khamenei says end protests, issues warning

Iran's news via Los Angeles
Play Video
By Fredrik Dahl and Parisa Hafezi
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a strong warning on Friday to leaders of mass demonstrations against a disputed presidential election that they would be responsible for any bloodshed.
(Editors' note: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.)
His words appeared to hint at a future crackdown by authorities on rallies after the election a week ago, which Khamenei said was fairly won by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and not rigged, as defeated candidate Mirhossein Mousavi says.
After the speech, a spokesman for Barack Obama said the U.S. president condemned violence carried out by security forces and believed Iranians should be free to demonstrate.
Hours after Khamenei's speech, another beaten candidate -- pro-reform cleric Mehdi Karoubi -- called for the election result to be canceled, as Mousavi has done previously.
In another act of defiance after nightfall, Mousavi backers took to Tehran rooftops to shout Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest), an echo of tactics in the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Khamenei demanded an end to the demonstrations in his first address to the nation since the election results triggered the most widespread street demonstrations in the Islamic Republic's 30-year history.
"If there is any bloodshed, leaders of the protests will be held directly responsible," the white-bearded cleric told huge crowds thronging Tehran University for Friday prayers.
Mousavi's supporters had planned another demonstration on Saturday. But an ally of his said after Khamenei's speech that Mousavi had no plans to call a rally on Saturday or Sunday.
State media have reported seven or eight people killed in unrest since the election outcome was published on June 13, prompting Mousavi's supporters to hold mass protests in Tehran, with demonstrations also reported in several Iranian cities.
Scores of reformists have been arrested and authorities have cracked down on foreign and domestic media.
Khamenei called for calm in his country, a major oil exporter embroiled in dispute with major powers over its nuclear program, which the West suspects could be used to make bombs. Tehran says its nuclear work is peaceful.
"The result of the election comes from the ballot box, not from the street," he said.
Khamenei also attacked what he called interference by foreign powers who had questioned the result of the election, saying Iran's enemies were trying to undermine the legitimacy of its Islamic establishment.
Over the last days, the U.S. administration has muted its comments to keep the door ajar for possible dialogue with a country it has not had diplomatic relations with for nearly three decades. Continued...
Source: Reuters