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Iran's Supreme Leader Calls for Strong Action Against Protesters

   VOA News 09 January 2010
   A  handout  picture released by the official website of Iran's supreme
   leader  shows Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressing a meeting in Tehran on
   December 13, 2009.

Photo: AFP

   Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (file photo)

   Iran's  Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has urged his security
   forces to take strong action against anti-government protesters.
   Khamenei says authorities must carry out their duties against those he
   calls  "corrupt  and  rioters."  But he says rules must be followed in
   confronting  protesters  and that security personnel must avoid taking
   arbitrary measures.
   The  supreme  leader  spoke Saturday to visitors from the holy Shi'ite
   city of Qom.
   His  remarks  follow some of the worst violence to hit Iran since June
   when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a disputed election.
   Late  last month, at least eight people were killed in clashes between
   Iranian   security  forces  and  opposition  activists.  The  violence
   coincided with Shi'ite Islam's Ashura holiday.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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