Iran Leader Calls For Obama Apology

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on Barack Obama to apologise for alleged US interference after disputed elections in the Islamic republic.

Mr Ahmadinejad in Tehran celebrating his victory in the presidential elections

The hard-line leader also accused his American counterpart of behaving like his predecessor George Bush.

Mr Obama has ramped up his previously muted criticism, saying he was "appalled and outraged" by the crackdown on demonstrators who believe Mr Ahmadinejad's election victory was fraudulent.

"Mr Obama made a mistake to say those things... our question is why he fell into this trap and said things that previously (former US President George) Bush used to say," Mr Ahmadinejad said.

About 20 people have been killed in mass demonstrations.

Police and militia have flooded Tehran's streets since Saturday, quelling the majority of protests after the most widespread anti-government unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The turmoil has dimmed the prospects of Mr Obama's outreach to Iran over its nuclear programme, with Tehran blaming Britain and the United States for fomenting violence.

I hope you avoid interfering in Iran's affairs and express your regret in a way that the Iranian nation is informed of it," Mr Ahmadinejad said.

Iran's reformist opposition leaders have vowed to press on with legal challenges to an election they say was rigged.

The wife of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi, who says he won the poll, said it was a "duty to continue legal protests to preserve Iranian rights".

Riot police swiftly dispersed a group of about 200 demonstrators with teargas on Wednesday, but the protest was a far cry from marches last week that attracted tens of thousands.

Protest cries of Allahu Akbar were heard from Tehran rooftops again overnight, although they were much more short-lived than on previous evenings in the capital.



The unrest has exposed unprecedented rifts within Iran's clerical establishment.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who normally stays above the political fray, has sided strongly with Mr Ahmadinejad.

The Ayatollah has upheld the result of the June 12 presidential poll and has warned opposition leaders they would be responsible for any bloodshed.

Iran's top legislative body, the Guardian Council, has also ruled out a call from Mr Mousavi to annul the election.

A spokesman for the council, which must approve the poll, said it had looked into all complaints but found no major fraud or irregularities, state Press TV reported.