Iranian police have threatened to deal firmly with any protests today. It comes ahead of a planned rally in Tehran this afternoon in support of the defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. The semi-official Fars News Agency says police have declared illegal all gatherings critical of the election.

There are now conflicting reports over whether some organisers have or will call off their actions following a stern warning from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who used Friday prayers to demand an end to the rallies.

He told leaders of the street protests that they would be held responsible for any bloodshed; pre-empting it seems the threat of a tough crackdown on further demonstrations.

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