Planned rally to support revolts draws Iranians anger

Tehran, Feb.10 (ANI): Iran's chief prosecutor has called an opposition request to hold a rally in support of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt "divisive" and "political."

His comments suggested that officials would not grant permission for the rally, planned for Monday, the New York Times reports.

Since claiming election fraud after the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 presidential election, Karroubi, a former Parliament speaker and Moussavi, a former prime minister, have been labeled by Iran's hard-liners as leaders of a "conspiracy" to overthrow the Islamic Republic and usher in the influence of Western powers.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other conservative figures have portrayed the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia as a result of the people's "Islamic awakening."

Ayatollah Khamenei praised the protesters last Friday, prompting some members of the Iranian opposition to say a refusal to grant permission for their rally would be hypocritical. (ANI)