Iranian opposition groups: we will hold silent rally

TEHRAN — Ten opposition groups seeking permission for a rally on the first anniversary of Iran's disputed presidential elections vowed Tuesday that their protests would be peaceful and silent, an opposition website reported.

In a letter to the interior ministry, the groups said that their June 12 rally would "be a silent one, with no one carrying any arms. There will be no statement read out and no speech made," the Rahesabz.net website reported.

Eight opposition groups had applied for permission to stage a rally last week, but Rabesabz.net said that number had gone up to ten.

It said the protesters would "carry signs asking for free elections and using green as their symbol," the colour of an opposition movement headed by Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was defeated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an election the opposition says was massively rigged in favour of the hardliner.

Among the 10 groups are the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF) and the Organisation of the Islamic Revolution Mujahedeen, two major reformist parties whose activities have been banned by the authorities, opposition websites have said.

Over the past weeks Mousavi and fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi have renewed calls for fresh presidential elections and rejected Ahmadinejad's authority.

The Kaleme.com website which belongs to Mousavi said Tuesday that the interior ministry was prevaricating on issuing the permits.

"Mr. Karroubi and Mr. Mousavi's request to hold a rally was not answered under the pretext that the demand was not forwarded by political groups or parties," the website said.

It said the requests had been re-submitted by the political groups themselves, but that "the director of political affairs at the interior ministry Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini evaded accepting the request."

The website did not mention the opposition's response to the reported move by the authorities.

After losing to Ahmadinejad in the election, Mousavi and Karroubi had quickly dismissed the election result as massively rigged, sparking street protests which rocked the Islamic republic throughout the summer and winter.

Security forces cracked down heavily, with dozens of protesters killed, hundreds arrested and scores of prominent reformist leaders, journalists and rights campaigners put on trial -- many receiving stiff jail sentences.

Authorities have vowed to crack down on any opposition protests.