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Iran's Khamenei Says People Responsible for Protesters' Deaths to Face Justice


Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says people responsible for the death of detained opposition protesters will face legal action.

Iranian media say Ayatollah Khamenei made the comment Sunday to the father of a protester who died after being arrested at a July 9 demonstration.

The father, Abdolhossein Ruholamini, was an adviser to defeated conservative presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaie.

Ruholamini's 25-year old son, Mohsen, was detained for taking part in protests against the disputed victory of the conservative incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iranian authorities have said the younger Ruholamini died of meningitis while in custody. But the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted a source in the coroner's office Monday as saying he died from repeated blows received in jail. The report could not be immediately confirmed.

In other developments, some conservative Iranian lawmakers objected Monday to one of three female Cabinet nominees put forward by President Ahmadinejad.

Education Minister-designate Sousan Keshavarz appeared in parliament to present her agenda. But several conservative critics of the president accused her of lacking the experience needed for the job.

If approved, the three female Cabinet nominees would become the first women to serve as ministers since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Mr. Ahmadinejad's nominee for intelligence minister, Heydar Moslehi, also addressed lawmakers Monday, pledging to confront what he called a "soft war" waged by Iran's enemies. He did not elaborate.

Moslehi is a former representative of Ayatollah Khamenei to the Revolutionary Guards. But he also faced criticism over his credentials. Iranian lawmaker Jamshid Ansari accused Moslehi of being inexperienced.

Iranian media say parliament will vote on the cabinet nominations Wednesday.

Mr. Ahmadinejad was re-elected in a controversial vote in June. Government opponents say the election was fraudulent, and it set off days of street demonstrations. Thousands of Iranians were arrested for protesting the outcome of the election.

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