News

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards warned the opposition on Thursday against anti-government protests during nationwide "Qods Day" rallies on Friday, saying they would be dealt with "firmly."

"This nation's brave children who are in the security bodies and the police, or in the Revolutionary Guards or the Basij (Islamist militia) (are ready) to confront firmly any deviation, and anti-revolutionary ... moves," the Guards said in a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA.

Reformist websites have said opposition leaders would attend the rallies, held annually to support the Palestinians, and called on supporters to raise anti-government slogans during the marches.

The June presidential election, which was followed by huge opposition protests, plunged Iran into political turmoil and exposed deepening divisions within its ruling elite.

Opposition leaders say the poll was rigged to secure President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election. The authorities deny it.

>>>