10:10pm UK, Wednesday June 17, 2009

Iran’s opposition leader has reportedly called for a mass rally on Thursday in a direct challenge to the nation’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mousavi supporters run in the streets during protests in Tehran

Defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi is apparently urging his supporters to keep protesting over a disputed election and the alleged deaths of demonstrators.

Mr Khamenei said on Tuesday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‘s rival should pursue his demands for an annulment of the poll through the country’s electoral system.

Meanwhile, Iran has accused the United States of “intolerable” meddling in its internal affairs, alleging for the first time that Washington has fueled a bitter post-election dispute.

Mr Mousavi, who insists the vote was rigged, appears to have no intention of backing down.

“We are after a peaceful rally to protest the unhealthy trend of the elections and realise our goal of annulling the election results,” Mr Mousavi reportedly said on his website.

The internet statement called for “a new presidential election that will not repeat the shameful fraud from the previous election”.

It came shortly after Tehran’s most powerful military force said Iranian websites and bloggers must remove any materials that “create tension” or face legal action.

At least five Iranian football players wore green bands around their wrists or arms during a World Cup qualifying match in South Korea in apparent solidarity with the anti-government protests.

The players, including captain Mehdi Mahdavikia, wore green – Mr Mousavi’ssignature colour – in what seemed to be a show of support. 

By the second half, some had removed the green bands amid speculation that they were ordered by their coach to do so.

Mahdavikia kept his band on even during the second half.

Fans from Iran also showed their support for the demonstrations at home by staging a protest outside the stadium.

The dispute presents one of the gravest threats to Iran’s cleric-led system since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Demonstrations spread across a number of cities after hard-liner Mr Ahmadinejad was officially declared to have won the election by a landslide.

Seven people died during a big opposition rally on Monday in central Tehran, state media said.

Tens of thousands of pro-Mousavi demonstrators marched on Tuesday in northern Tehran.

The 12-man Guardian Council, Iran’s top legislative body, has said it was prepared for a partial vote recount but ruled out annulling the poll.

An Iranian provincial prosecutor has warned that the “few elements” behind post-election unrest could face the death penalty under Islamic law, an Iranian news agency said.

Mohammadreza Habibi, prosecutor-general in the central province of Isfahan, reportedly said the “offenders” were controlled from outside Iran.

“So before they are stricken with the law’s anger, they should return to the nation’s embrace and avoid criminal measures and activities,” he said.