A prominent supporter of Iran’s leading opposition politician was killed by a bomb at his home today.

A prominent supporter of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi was killed in a bomb attack at his home today.

Iran’s opposition leader was defiant today in the face new threats – including calls by hardliners for his execution – and said he was ready to die in defence of the people’s rights.

TENS of thousands of hard-line government supporters turned out for state-sponsored rallies yesterday, some of them calling for the execution of opposition leaders as Iran’s police chief threatened to show “no mercy” in crushing any new protests by the pro-reform movement.

Iran accused Britain of helping stir up unrest that has led to deadly street clashes in the country and summoned its ambassador to complain today.

A relative of Iran’s opposition leader says the body of the leader’s nephew has been removed from a hospital without the family’s permission, a day after he was slain in an anti-government protest.

Iranian security forces stormed a series of opposition offices today, rounding up at least seven prominent anti-government activists in a new crackdown against the country’s reformist movement, opposition websites and activists reported.

Tens of thousands of mourners joined the funeral procession for Iran’s most senior dissident cleric today.

GOVERNMENT supporters rallied across Iran yesterday to protest against an opposition “insult” to the Islamic Republic’s revered founder, with some calling for pro-reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi to be executed.

Thousands of riot police and Revolutionary Guard members armed with tear gas, batons and firearms were deployed outside Tehran University today to prevent student demonstrations backed by the opposition.

IRANIAN security forces beat anti-government protesters with batons yesterday on the sidelines of state-sanctioned rallies to mark the 30th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover.

Iranian security forces attacked anti-government protesters on the streets of Tehran today as state-sanctioned rallies to mark the 30th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover took place nearby.

Iranian riot troops attacked anti-government protesters with batons and tear gas today during state-backed rallies marking the 30th anniversary of the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran.

Hard-liners have attacked senior pro-reform leaders in the streets of Tehran as tens of thousands marched in competing mass demonstrations organised by opposition and government supporters.

Thousands of Iranian anti-government protesters clashed with hard-liners on the streets of Tehran today as marches turned into running battles.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today called for the leaders of the opposition to be prosecuted over Iran's post-election turmoil, stepping up pressure against the pro-reform movement that says he won the election by fraud.

AN IRANIAN prosecutor has called for “maximum punishment” of a senior reformer for acting against national security, a crime punishable by death.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s right to rule received an unprecedented challenge from a group of former reformist politicians today.

Hundreds of protesters were beaten back by police today as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a second term as Iran’s president.

TWO prominent defeated Iranian presidential candidates said they would maintain their campaign against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election, which has sparked Iran’s worst unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

IRAN’S supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president for a new four-year term, describing him as a “courageous” man but telling him to listen to his critics.

IRAN’S opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi accused the authorities yesterday of using “medieval torture” to extract confessions from protesters on trial over the wave of post-election unrest.

IRAN has announced that the first trials of post-election protesters will begin this weekend, as anger grew even among some government supporters over abuse of those detained in the more than six-week-old crackdown.

Iran’s opposition leader has requested permission from authorities to hold a memorial service for victims of the post-election unrest, a top aide said today.

IN apparent defiance of Iran’s supreme leader, a powerful cleric has declared the country in crisis after a disputed election, as tens of thousands of protesters used Friday prayers to stage the biggest show of dissent for weeks.

Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani today issued a direct challenge to the country’s supreme leader over the disputed election.

TEHRAN’S police chief said that few arrests were made in opposition protests that erupted a day earlier in the Iranian capital in an opposition attempt to revive street demonstrations over the country’s disputed election.

Thousands of protesters streamed down streets in Tehran, chanting “death to the dictator” and defying security forces who fired tear gas and charged with batons, witnesses said.

HUNDREDS of young men and women chanted “Death to the dictator”, confronting police wielding batons and firing tear gas in the capital yesterday as opposition activists sought to revive street protests despite authorities’ vows to “smash” any new marches.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to disperse the doubt surrounding his re-election in his first major television address since the result, but even as he spoke, opponents went to their rooftops shouting "death to the dictator".

A top aide to Iran’s supreme leader called the country’s main opposition figure a US agent and said in an editorial today that he should be tried for committing crimes against the nation.

IRAN’S election oversight body last night declared the hotly-disputed presidential vote valid after a partial recount, rejecting opposition allegations of fraud and further silencing calls for a new vote.

Iran dismissed the idea of downgrading diplomatic relations with Britain today despite soaring tensions between the two countries after Iranian authorities detained local British Embassy employees for allegedly stirring up post-election unrest.

Iran’s opposition leader has insisted that the bitterly contested presidential election be nullified, rejecting the latest offer of a partial recount and signalling he is not dropping his political challenge despite mounting pressures by Iran’s ruling clergy.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged a “crushing” response to continued US condemnation of his nation’s crackdown on postelection protest, saying today that President Barack Obama’s criticism revealed his insincerity about improving relations.

Iran’s hardline president lashed out anew at the United States and President Barack Obama today, accusing him of interference following post election turmoil.

A HARDLINE Iranian cleric called yesterday for the execution of leading “rioters” to teach a lesson to the thousands who have protested against the June 12 presidential election result.

Iran’s increasingly isolated opposition leader appeared to be backing away from confrontation with the government over the country’s disputed elections today.

DEFEATED Iranian presidential challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi said last night he was being pressured to withdraw his complaint over the disputed election as the regime extended its clampdown on the opposition.

Iran continued its crackdown on protesters arresting 70 university professors after they met embattled opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, but he vowed to persevere with his election challenge today.

Seventy university professors were detained after meeting with Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, according to a website affiliated with the politician.

Iran’s supreme leader crushed the fading hopes of election demonstrators today with a declaration that the government would not yield to them.

Iran moved a step closer to a final election victory declaration for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today when a leading critic of the voting announced he was withdrawing his objections "for the good of the country".

IRAN expelled two British diplomats yesterday after bitterly accusing Britain of meddling and spying. The government also dealt a fresh blow to the opposition by making clear it will not hold a new vote despite charges of fraud.