Day of mourning politicized in Iran

TEHRAN, May 28 (UPI) -- Supporters of incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held rallies in his support during commemorations honoring the daughter of the Islamic prophet.

Student mourners marched in support of Ahmadinejad during a national day of mourning honoring the anniversary of the death of Fatimah Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammad, Press TV reports.

The anniversary comes just weeks before Iranians head to the polls for presidential elections scheduled for June 12.

Ahmadinejad and Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, are running on the Principlist ticket. On the Reformist side, former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi and former Parliamentary Speaker Medhi Karroubi are vying to become the next president of Iran.

Mousavi, the top challenger to Ahmadinejad on the Reformist ticket, called for his supporters to honor Zahra by abstaining from campaign activity to honor the national day of mourning.

Early polling shows Ahmadinejad and Mousavi as the top contenders for the presidential contest.