Protesters rally; government cracks down

TEHRAN, June 17 (UPI) -- Throngs of supporters of reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi filled a Tehran square Wednesday evening, calling for a new presidential election, witnesses said.

The demonstrators in Haft-e-Tir Square want government officials to throw out the results of Friday's balloting that favored President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, CNN reported.

Protesters held placards and posters reading, "Where is my vote?" "Silence" and "Freedom," the witnesses told the U.S. network.

At least eight people have died in the unrest that has taken hold in Iran since the election, Iran's government-funded Press TV reported.

Mousavi said on his Web site that he and former President Mohammad Khatami sent a joint letter asking Iran's courts to release protesters who have been detained, and to take action to calm the citizenry.

Mousavi also called for a "ceremony of mourning" Thursday afternoon, which he planned to attend.

Iran expanded its crackdown on journalists Wednesday and for the first time accused Western countries of interfering in Iran's disputed presidential election.

Iranian leaders summoned the Swiss ambassador -- who represents U.S. interests in Iran -- and ambassadors from Britain, France and the Czech Republic to clarify their countries' stance on the election and to complain of "interventionist" statements, Iranian media outlets reported.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday it would be counterproductive for the United States to be perceived as "meddling" in Iran's elections, but also said he was "deeply troubled by the violence" in Iran.

"It is amusing how they prohibit unauthorized mass gatherings in their own countries, but support them elsewhere," Press TV reported Iran's Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi as saying.

An amateur video replayed on CNN showed Mousavi supporters spanning a bridge in Tehran. The government barred foreign journalists from filming "unauthorized" rallies and demonstrations, saying the media reports were biased and journalists' safety could not be guaranteed.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeii said Wednesday the ministry has arrested more than 30 people suspected as leaders of the post-election unrest in Tehran, Fars New Agency said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said through the state-sponsored news service that investigators have taken action against "deviant news sites" that encouraged the demonstrations, The Times of London reported. The guard alleged the Web sites were backed by Canadian, U.S. and British interests.

"Legal action will be very strong and call on them to remove such materials," it said.