TEHRAN (AFP)--A leading Iranian daily called on Saturday for Mir Hossein Mousavi to be tried for treason, as hardliners stepped up their attacks on the opposition leader over the unrest that followed last month's presidential election.
The Kayhan newspaper, whose editor is appointed by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also hit out at one of Mousavi's leading backers in his run for the presidency, reformist former president Mohammad Khatami.
In an editorial, the paper accused Mousavi of "killing innocent people, inciting riots, hiring thugs to assault people, evident cooperation with foreigners and playing the part of US fifth column".
"Mousavi and Khatami should account for these horrendous crimes and evident treason in an open tribunal," it added.
Khamenei has openly sided with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since the June 12 election and rejected Mousavi's charges that the hardline incumbent's victory was massively rigged.
Mousavi and another defeated candidate, former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi have both refused to give up their demands for a re-run of the election, which Mousavi has described as a "shameful fraud".
Hundreds of thsouands of protestors took to the streets of Tehran after the publication of the official election results. At least 20 people have been killed in clashes with security forces and more than 1,000 detained.
Tehran's Islamist Basiji students have also called for Mousavi to be put on trial, accusing him of being an "accomplice in riots," the Fars news agency reported.
The Basij militia played a leading role in stifling the election protests.
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Publié le 04 Juillet 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones