TEHRAN — The political party of Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi called on Sunday for the holding of a free election and permission to stage demonstrations, its website said.
The Etemad Melli party also insisted the reformist cleric, who charges that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in June last year was the result of fraud, had the evidence to back up his accusations.
"Hold a free election or allow a free gathering by providing security to supporters of Karroubi or (Mir Hossein) Mousavi which will show how people can wake you up" to realities, Sahamnews.org website said, referring to the two main opposition leaders.
"It is necessary for you to know that Mr. Karroubi is standing firm and tall and has evidence for all his comments," it added in an address to the country's regime.
Hardliners have called for Karroubi and Mousavi to be prosecuted over the anti-government protests that erupted after the presidential election.
Karroubi has alleged that several protesters were raped in jails, a charge denied by Iranian officials.
Despite a ban on protests and harsh crackdown by security forces, opposition supporters have repeatedly used government-backed public events to take to the streets.
Eight people were killed and hundreds of opposition supporters arrested at the most recent demonstration on December 27, when thousands of opposition supporters staged one such rally.
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