Ahmadinejad hints at arrests

TEHRAN, June 14 (UPI) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hinted Sunday at the possible arrests of his opponents following his disputed re-election.

The New York Times reported dozens of reformist politicians were said to have been arrested at their homes overnight. The newspaper said there were also reports of politicians and clerics being placed under house arrest.

Speaking to reporters, Ahmadinejad said his re-election was "real and free." He accused foreign media of launching a "psychological war" against Iran.

CNN reported clashes broke out between police and protesters as Ahmadinejad held his victory rally and opposition supporters claimed ballot fraud in Friday's election.

Asked about the arrest of opposition leaders, Ahmadinejad said those committing crimes deserved to be arrested, and likened his victory to a soccer match.

"There will rule of law in this country and all the people are equal before the law," he was quoted by the Times as saying.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters shouting "Death to the dictatorship" torched police motorcycles and vandalized store fronts with rocks.

The demonstrators, many of them students, supported Ahmadinejad's rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi, in Friday's presidential election.

While the Iranian government declared Ahmadinejad the winner, Mousavi, a former prime minister, called the election results fraudulent. It was not clear Sunday whether Mousavi had been placed under house arrest, CNN reported.

Eighty-five percent of Iran's 46 million eligible voters cast ballots Friday, a record number, said Iran's Interior Ministry, which gave Ahmadinejad 62.63 percent of the vote and Mousavi 33.75 percent.