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Rafsanjani offers to relax tension increased after Iranian presidential elections (UPDATE-2)

Politics Materials 17 July 2009 16:58 (UTC +04:00)
Head of the Iranian Expediency Discernment Council called the Iranian people to unity during the Friday prayer in Tehran on July 17, Mehr news agency said.
Rafsanjani offers to relax tension increased after Iranian presidential elections (UPDATE-2)

Head of the Iranian Expediency Discernment Council called the Iranian people to unity during the Friday prayer in Tehran on July 17, Mehr news agency said.

The name of the Islamic Republic is not official. It is a combination of 'Islam' and 'Republic' words. If one of them is damaged, the revolutionary and Islamic republic will not exist, Rafsanjani said.

There are some proposals to remove the current crisis and the main thing is that people do not lose their confidence in the government, the head of the council said.

"The government should regain people's confidence and observe laws," Rafsanjani added.

It is necessary to release people, who were arrested after the elections and share grief of families of the dead and injured for the national reconciliation. The authorities should be frank with respect to media. All terms should be offered media no matter it criticizes or praises the authorities, Rafsanjani added.

There should be established an atmosphere ensuring freedom of expression for every one, Rafsanjani added. Rafsanjani demands the Iranian state television to offer similar opportunities for every side.

Iranian President Ahmadenejad accused Rafsanjani during pre-election debates. In turn, Rafsanjani asked the State television to present him air time to answer Ahmadenejad's charges. However, the State television rejected this appeal.

Protestors against the presidential elections held on June 12 said they will rally during the Friday prayer, to be conducted by Rafsanjani on July17.

During the presidential elections Rafsanjani supported candidate from the reformist camp Mir-Hossein Mousavi. This is the first Friday prayer with the Rafsanjani after the presidential elections. Mousavi made a statement in which he said he will participate in the Friday prayer. Former presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi and ex-president Muhammad Khatemi also attended this Friday prayer.

An incident took place between the Iranian law-enforcement officers and Moisavi allies during the Friday prayer held in the Tehran University. Police used teargas, BBC reported.

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