Mousavi vows to keep up anti-gov't fight

TEHRAN, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi says he will not abandon his fight against Iran's government.

In a statement posted on his Web site Tuesday, the former presidential candidate says he will continue his struggle against the Islamic republic's leadership, whom he and his supporters contend stole last summer's elections, the BBC reported.

In the message, Mousavi reportedly said Iran's 1979 revolution had failed to achieve most of its goals and denounced what he called the politically motivated arrests of thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets last year to protest the election results.

"The green movement will not abandon its peaceful fight ... until people's rights are preserved," the BBC quoted Mousavi as writing. "Peaceful protests are Iranians' right."

The British broadcaster said his comments are one of his strongest challenges to the Iranian regime and come as it prepares to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic republic on Feb. 11.