Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed Tehran's Friday prayergathering, calling on opposition leaders to be prosecuted for unrestand violence following June 12's disputed presidential election.
Iranian PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad had harsh words for his political adversaries fromthe opposition reform movement.
Mr. Ahmadinejad, who took a low profile in weeks of unrest following hisalleged "landslide victory" in Iran's disputed June 12 presidentialelection, claimed that his reformist opponents are now in disarray.
Hesays that with God's will, the Iranian nation has slammed the [villains] in the mouth during the elections, and after two months,they are now stunned and have lost their way.
A fierce crackdownby Iranian security forces, following weeks of opposition protests,including thousands of arrests and alleged torture of detainees, hasdampened what had been a serious threat to Iran's 30-year-old IslamicRepublic.
The Iranian president went on to call on Iran's judiciary to "prosecute" reformist leaders for their alleged crimes.
Hesays that the foremost duty of the judiciary and security forces is todeal with the leaders and masterminds [of recent unrest]. All[leaders] who organized and fomented [that unrest] and played the gameof our enemies must be challenged and confronted, he charged. Theinstigators of those riots should have no immunity [from prosecution].
Iranhas already put scores of opposition leaders, journalists,politicians, and ordinary protesters on trial for inciting violence andunrest.
Opposition leaders Mir Hussein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubiand former president Mohammed Khatami have all challenged Mr. Ahmadinejad's legitimacy, arguing that he won re-election through fraudand vote-rigging.
The crowd at Tehran University's prayergrounds chanted "death to America" and "death to the traitors," attimed intervals, as the Iranian president spoke.
Mr.Ahmadinejad's assault against opposition leaders comes at a time whenhe is being criticized by his own supporters for using poor judgment intrying to form a new government, and while Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei has softened criticism of the opposition.
AyatollahKhamenei, during a Wednesday speech, retracted previous charges thatopposition leaders were being backed by foreign powers.