A supporter of Mousavi, the former president calls for the release of all anti-government protesters and proposes a “solution” to the country’s political crisis. Local sources speak of hundreds of arrests by police, which used tear gas to disperse opposition demonstrators. Ahmadinejad makes his first appointments, picking his new first vice president and the head of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Tensions remain high in Iran after police and demonstrators clashed at Tehran University where they had gathered for Friday prayers. Hundreds of people were arrested, local sources report. Ayatollah Ali Akbar Rafsanjani, a former president and a supporter of Mir-Hossein Mousavi, led today’s sermon. Mr Mousavi, who lost in the 12 June presidential election, was also present. President Ahmadinejad’s victory is tainted by accusations of fraud.

Friday prayers brought tens of thousands of people who are opposed to the president. Several times they interrupted Rafsanjani’s sermon, shouting Mousavi’s name, chanting “God is great.” In a direct appeal to the ayatollah some shouted: “Hashemi [Rafsanjani]: If you remain silent, you are a criminal.”

Also in the crowd, Ahmadinejad’s supporters chanted "death to America," the ‘great Satan’. Opposition supporters countered with "death to Russia"—a reference to the government's ties to Moscow.

During his sermon Rafsanjani spoke about “greatness, unity and consensus” as values on which “a solution to the current situation” can be found.

He raised doubts about the legitimacy of the June vote and called for the release of the people arrested in post-election protests.

This was first time the former president held a sermon at Tehran University after last month’s controversial election and the demonstrations by the opposition which were violently suppressed.

Sources in Tehran told AsiaNews that “many people who were not interested in politics or religions in the past” came to the mosque “to take part in Friday prayers and listen to the words” of Ayatollah Rafsanjani.

Many wore green bandanas, the opposition’s colour, carrying the photo of Mousavi, “making the V sign for Victory.”

This new wave of protests, coming after a period of relative calm, was met by police repression, which used tear gas and carried out a number of arrests.

According to two bloggers close to the dissident movement, a prominent women's rights activist, Shadi Sadr, was beaten by plainclothes militiamen and spirited away in a police car.

In the meantime President Ahmadinejad, who is set to take office for a second time in an official swearing ceremony on 26 July, made his first two appointments.

Former Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Akbar Salehi takes over Iran’s nuclear programme.

A close associate, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, was appointed first vice president.

• iran
• islam
• economy
• presidential
• elections
• ahmadinejad
• rafsanjani
• mousavi
• demonstrations
• repression