Tens of thousands of supporters of defeated Iranian presidential
candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi gathered in Tehran Wednesday for another
day of protests against last week's disputed election.
Witnessses say many in the crowd wore green wristbands and headbands, the color used by Mr. Mousavi's supporters.
Mr. Mousavi has called for another peaceful demonstration Thursday
aimed at getting officials to annul the election results, which he
described as a "shameful fraud." In a statement on his Web site, he
asked his supporters to stage peaceful protests or gather in mosques
Thursday to honor those killed in post-election violence.
His call came as Iran's Revolutionary Guards further cracked down on
the media Wednesday, threatening legal action against Web sites that
create "tension."
In Seoul, South Korea, at least four members of Iran's national
football team wore green wristbands during the first half of a World
Cup qualifying match.
The disputed election, which handed a landslide victory to President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has triggered Iran's most serious unrest since the
1979 Islamic revolution. Iran's Press TV says post-election violence has left at least eight people dead.
Groups supporting Mr. Ahmadinejad have also staged large demonstrations.
Reporters and photographers of foreign news organizations have already
been barred from covering "unauthorized" political events and
demonstrations.
Iran's powerful Guardian Council said Tuesday it will recount some
ballots from Friday's controversial vote after challengers to Mr.
Ahmadinejad called his re-election a fraud.
Aides to two prominent reformist politicians, Saeed Hajjarian and
Mohammed Ali Abtahi, say they were detained on Tuesday. Abtahi is an
assistant to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Separate
reports say 26 people were arrested after a pro-Mousavi rally turned
violent Monday.
In Washington Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama said he is very
concerned about the dispute over Iran's presidential election and the
suppression of peaceful dissent in Tehran.
Government officials say Mr. Ahmadinejad won re-election with 63
percent of the ballots last Friday, compared to 34 percent for Mr.
Mousavi.