With the opposition’s denouncement of electoral fraud that has caused massive street protests, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has demanded an end to the demonstrations protesting the election results and issued a stern ‘warning to the leaders of the street protests that they will be responsible for any bloodshed.’ The protests have resulted in at least eight deaths.

On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of Iranians convened by beaten presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi packed downtown Tehran on a crowded day of mourning for the victims of police repression during the protests. Mousavi urged his followers to ‘keep alive the protests’ but always ‘in a peaceful manner.’

During his sermon before tens of thousands at the Tehran University, Khamenei finally broke his silence over the recent spate of violent protests against what is deemed as fraudulent elections where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reemerged as president of Iran. The Supreme Leader called the recent events both as political earthquake and historic event. With statements coming one week after the denouncement of election fraud, the press was allowed to fully cover the sermon.

The Ayatollah has asked the people not to give in to the pressure of the streets, and warned the people that they should not deviate from the path. Khamenei accused the enemies of Islam for trying to cause unease among Muslims during his Friday sermon at Tehran University, a week after the election was denounced as fraudulent by the opposition.

Via Reuters