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Khamenei Backs Ahmadinejad, Slams Protests
IslamOnline.net & News Agencies
TEHRAN — Siding with declared winner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Friday, June 19, for an end to streets protests over last week’s disputed presidential elections.
“The people have chosen whom they wanted,” Khamenei said in his Friday prayers sermon in Tehran, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I see some people more suitable for serving the country than others but the people made their choice,” he added to the cheers of the massed worshippers who included Ahmadinejad.
“The result of the election comes from the ballot box, not from the street,” he said. “Today the Iranian nation needs calm.”
Iran fell into turmoil since last week’s presidential elections, which incumbent Ahmadinejad won in landslide.
Reformist rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi challenged the election results and led daily protests that left at least seven people dead.
Khamenei insisted that despite some vote violations registered by the three defeated candidates with electoral watchdog the Guardians Council, there could be no doubting Ahmadinejad’s reelection given his margin of victory.
“The legal mechanisms in our country do not allow cheating. How can one cheat with a margin of 11 million votes?” he asked.
The supreme leader warned the opposition of staging new protests over the vote results.
“I want to tell everyone these things must finish. These street actions are being done to put pressure on leaders but we will not bow in front of them,” Khamenei said.
“Those politicians who somehow have influence on people should be very careful about their behavior if they act in an extremist manner.
“This extremism will reach a sensitive level which they will not be able to contain. They will be responsible for the blood, violence and chaos,” he warned.
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