Ahmadinejad calls for prosecution of opposition leaders

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is calling for the prosecution of Iran’s opposition leaders over the post-election turmoil.

Speaking to a crowd of thousands in the capital Tehran before Friday prayers today, Ahmadinejad said senior activists currently on trial should not be the only ones punished.

Ahmadinejad said the “serious confrontation has to be against the leaders and key elements”.

He did not specifically name the opposition leaders.

However, many hard-liners have called for the arrest of defeated presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi as well as former president Mohammad Khatami.

The unrest following the June 12 presidential elections has marked a serious challenge to the cleric-led regime.