Death to the dictator,cry Moussavi supporters

Trouble erupted on the streets when riot police,on motorcycles and armed with batons,beat Moussavi supporters who rejected the election result. Moussavi protested against what he called violations and vote-rigging during the election. Interior Ministry officials rejected the allegations.

At least three people were injured in the clashes,which broke out after the Interior Ministry announced the hardline incumbent’s resounding victory in Friday’s vote.

Moussavi said members of his election headquarters had been beaten “with batons,wooden sticks and electrical rods”.

Tehran’s deputy police chief,Mohsen Khancharli,said the force would “strongly confront” any gathering or rally held without permission.

“Police are not confronting people but only those who are disturbing public order or who make damage to public places,” he told the official IRNA news agency.

Up to 3,000 Moussavi supporters took part in the protests. Some chanted “Moussavi take back our vote! What happened to our vote?”

Others chanted anti-Ahmadinejad slogans,bringing traffic to a standstill. “We are Iranians too,” and “Moussavi is our President,” they shouted.

Khamenei,Iran’s supreme leader,told the defeated candidates and their supporters to avoid “provocative behaviour”. “The chosen and respected president is the president of all the Iranian nation and everyone,including yesterday’s competitors,must unanimously support and help him,” Khamenei said in a statement on state television.

Iranian and Western analysts abroad greeted the results with disbelief. They said Ahmadinejad’s re-election would disappoint Western powers aiming to convince Iran to halt nuclear work they suspect is aimed at making bombs,and could further complicate efforts by US President Barack Obama to reach out to Tehran.