TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iranian opposition leaders have called on supporters to take part in peaceful protests on June 12 to mark the first anniversary of an election they say was rigged, a reformist website said on Tuesday.
Any anti-government demonstration could raise the prospect of new clashes with the security forces, which quelled mass protests that erupted after the presidential poll last year won by hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Sahamnews, the website of pro-reform cleric Mehdi Karoubi, said he and moderate opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi held talks on Monday about the situation in the Islamic Republic.
“Their assessment of the government’s performance was negative in all fields — political and economic,” the website said, adding:
“Mehdi Karoubi and Mirhossein Mousavi called for the public’s participation in peaceful demonstrations on (June 12) — the anniversary of the presidential election.”
They urged groups and political parties to send requests to the Interior Ministry asking for permission to stage marches on that day. The authorities, which deny vote-rigging charges, have refused such requests in the past.
