Supporters of Mousavi rally after Rafsanjani address

TEHRAN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Numerous supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi rallied in central Tehran on Friday after powerful cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ended a sermon, witnesses said.

Many Mousavi supporters were marching in the nearby streets of Iran's Tehran University where a Friday prayers sermon led by former President Rafsanjani had been held, a witness said on condition of anonymity.

The supporters were wearing green wristbands which are the symbol of support for Mousavi and carrying Mousavi's pictures, the witness said, adding that no clashes happened.

Another witness said that supporters of Mousavi gathered outside Tehran University when Rafsanjani was addressing the Friday prayers.

"They are chanting slogans and wrangling with supporters of President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad," the witness said, "and police were trying to disperse some Mousavi supporters outside the university."

During his address on Friday, Rafsanjani 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 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.

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."