Iran govt's supporters take to streets, opposition warned

THE Iranian authorities yesterday urged its supporters out onto the streets of major cities in a show of force against the opposition, which it accuses of being "pawns of the enemies."

The Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that massive rallies have been called by the Islamic republic's clerics, armed forces and seminary schools in response to a string of opposition protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed June re-election.

But Iran's police chief warned supporters of opposition leader, Mihossein Mousavi, only to expect harsh treatment if they participate in illegal rallies, three days after eight protesters were killed in protests, Reuters claimed.