A senior Iranian cleric has called on the government to harshly punish leaders of the country’s post-election protests. In a sermon at Tehran University on Friday, Ahmad Khatami said rioters should be dealt with cruelly and without mercy. He also accused foreign journalists of fomenting the demonstrations. Authorities have cracked down on massive protests led by defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who alleges the vote was rigged. At least 17 people have been killed in clashes with security forces and hundreds have been detained.
