Iran's Rafsanjani calls for solution to doubts over election

TEHRAN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday called for solution to current situation in Iran in the framework of laws.

"A large group of Iranians have doubts about last month's disputed presidential election," Rafsanjani said during his Friday prayer address broadcast live on state radio, "something should be done about the situation."

He considered the reconstruction of people's trust as an important task to confront current situation.

"Our key issue is to return the trust people had," he said, "now (it) is broken to some extent."

"First, every problem should be solved in the framework of laws," he said, adding that without laws there would be no limit to everything in the Islamic system.

The powerful cleric also called for the release of protesters detained during the unrest after Iran's disputed 10th presidential election last month.

"It is not necessary in the situation to hold them (protesters)," he said, adding that they should be freed and meet their families.

"The most (important) thing for us now is solidarity," he emphasized, calling for tolerance for each other.

After the disputed June 12 presidential election, during which incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a landslide victory, Iran has been the scene of a series of protests and unrest.

According to Press TV, Iran's police have arrested 457 people in the post-election violence which has left at least 20 dead and hundreds of others injured.

On June 29, the Guardian Council confirmed the vote result, announcing the election file as closed.