This Article is From Jun 20, 2009

Yet another warning for Iran opposition

Yet another warning for Iran opposition

AP image

Tehran:

Iran's opposition leader received another stern warning on Saturday not to encourage his supporters to take to the streets a day after the country's top leader sought to end the deepening election crisis by effectively declaring President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner.

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have planned a massive rally in Tehran later on Saturday, but it was unclear if he would attend and how large the rally would be after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered opposition leaders on Friday to end street protests or be held responsible for any "bloodshed and chaos" to come.

Iran's Interior Ministry reiterated the warning to Mousavi on Saturday, saying he would "be held responsible for the consequences of any illegal gatherings."

The ministry also accused the 67-year-old former prime minister of supporting protests that "have lead to the disruption of security and public order," State Security Council secretary, Abbas Mohtaj, said in a statement on the ministry's website.

The warnings place Mousavi at a pivotal moment. He can either back down or risk a crushing response from police and the forces at Khamenei's disposal - the powerful Revolutionary Guard and their volunteer citizen militia, the basij.

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