Khamenei: Reformers burnt Khomeini image

TEHRAN, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Iran's supreme leader Sunday blamed reformists and anti-government forces for defiling a picture of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made the comments as political turmoil built in the country over footage televised by state television of protesters burning of an image of Iran's revolutionary founder during last week's Student Day commemorations, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Khamenei reportedly said the incident showed that the "Green" protest movement arising from the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has now become an effort to overturn the Islamic Republic.

The semi-official Fars News Agency said Khamenei, talking to a group of preachers, "reiterated that such a law-breaking approach resulted in insult to the Father of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam Khomeini, by the 'disappointed enemy.'"

The Times said Iranian seminary students Saturday demonstrated against the burning of Khomeini's image, while lawmakers supported a statement condemning the burning and commending state television for broadcasting the image, while reformists said the move was bid by hardliners to discredit them.