Khomeini orders clampdown

TEHRAN, July 14: Iran's supreme leader ordered a clampdown on violent anti-government protests today as hundreds of thousands of people a...

TEHRAN, July 14: Iran8217;s supreme leader ordered a clampdown on violent anti-government protests today as hundreds of thousands of people attended a rally here called to show support for the Islamic regime.

8220;The people will not allow acts of destruction and the Islamic republic will repress it,8221; Iran8217;s supreme leader and spiritual guide Ayatollah Ali Khomeini said in a message to the nation broadcast on radio.

Another senior member of the Islamic regime warned meanwhile that persons arrested during rioting here over the past two days would face trial as 8220;counter-revolutionaries.8221;

Those responsible for violent clashes with the security forces here on Monday and yesterday are 8220;bandits and saboteurs,8221; conservative deputy speaker of parliament Hassan Rouhani told a huge rally at Tehran University.

Conviction on charges of engaging in 8220;counter-revolutionary8221; activities is punishable by the death sentence in the Islamic republic.

Rouhani also issued a stern warning against 8220;foreign interference8221;in the unrest which has rocked the Islamic republic and said Tehran would respond to any country supporting the demonstrations.

8220;We expected the reaction from the United States and the Zionist regime Israel but certain other countries are making a mistake by lending their support,8221; he said.

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Rouhani warned that Iran would 8220;respond at an opportune time8221; but did not cite any country by name other than the United States and Israel, Iran8217;s arch-enemy.

Several hundred thousand people, many carrying pictures of Khomeini and his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, attended the mass rally at Tehran University called by the Organisation for Islamic Propaganda, the government8217;s main propaganda body.

8220;Death to America,8221; 8220;Death to Israel8221; and 8220;Death to the hypocrites,8221; the demonstrators shouted in a reference to the people8217;s mujahideen, the armed opposition movement based in Iraq.