Iran opposition leaders call for protesters release

Reuters: Iranian opposition leaders urged the authorities to free those detained during post-election protests and criticized the "security state" imposed in Iran, defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi's website said on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iranian opposition leaders urged the authorities to free those detained during post-election protests and criticized the "security state" imposed in Iran, defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi's website said on Tuesday.

"Mehdi Karoubi, Mousavi and (former president Mohammad) Khatami met on Monday and underlined the importance of ending the imposed security state in the country and also the immediate release of detained protesters," the website reported.

Mousavi and Karoubi, moderate candidates in the June 12 presidential election, have denounced the result of the poll, which saw hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected.

Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has upheld the result.

The opposition leaders also said arrests, which began on June 13, should stop.

"The continuation of arrests and the security state will lead to a more radicalised political atmosphere," they said, adding that the "wave of arrests should end."

(Editing by Jon Boyle)