Ayatollah calls for calm

19/06/09 12:54 CET

world news

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Iran’s top religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, has appealed for opposition supporters to end their street protests against the result of the presidential election won by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He said their political leaders would be responsible for any bloodshed. Followers of Mirhossein Mousavi claim the ballot was rigged. Up to eight people have died in the unrest. Addressing Friday prayers Khamanei, who supports the conservative Ahmadinejad, said there was no fraud. He said Iran’s enemies were targeting the legitimacy of the Islamic establishment by disputing the outcome. Khamanei also said his foreign policy was closer to Ahmadinejad’s than that of the other candidates. Khamanei has proposed a partial recount, but the opposition want the result annulled.More about: Iran, Protest

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Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…