Top Iran cleric criticises hard-liners in sermon: Via The Independent(UK).

A powerful cleric-politician, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, criticised Iran's leadership today on one of the country's most resonant political stages, the Islamic prayer sermon. In a boost for the opposition, he said the leadership must clear up doubts over the disputed presidential election and warned of a "crisis."

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters packed the weekly prayers at Tehran University, chanting slogans in a show of strength to hear Rafsanjani, who was delivering the sermon for the first time since Iran's election turmoil began a month ago. In the front row was opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims to have won the June 12 election.

Outside the university, more opposition supporters gathered in a rally after the prayers, chanting "death to the dictator" and "coup government, resignation, resignation." Pro-government Basiji militiamen fired volleys of tear gas at the crowd, said witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government retaliation.
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VOA News - Former Iranian President Criticizes Hard-Liners in Sermon: Via Voice of America.

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani delivered a blistering Friday prayer sermon at Tehran University, before a crowd of thousands, warning those in high places to abide by the will of the people and to heal the wounds of the recent crisis.

Thousands of people chanted as they listened to former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani deliver his much-anticipated Friday prayer sermon, and key figures of the opposition movement, including defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammed Khatami, attended in a calculated show of force.

Former President Rafsanjani delivered a scathing attack against those in power, arguing that "if the people are not content with the government, it loses its legitimacy." He said this was the "way of the Imam, [Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Khomeini]" and also the "way of the Prophet [Mohammed]."
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Iran opposition leader to attend Friday prayers: daily: Via washingtonpost.com .

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi will attend Friday prayers this week in his first official public appearance since last month's disputed presidential vote, a newspaper said on Tuesday.

The Etemad daily said the prayers at Tehran University will be led by former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a rival of re-elected hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and one of the four Tehran Friday prayer leaders.

Another former president and supporter of Mousavi, reformist Mohammad Khatami, will also attend, the newspaper said.

"Mousavi and Khatami will attend the prayers this week led by Rafsanjani. This will be their first public appearance in an official event after the (June 12) election," said the daily, citing Mousavi's Facebook page. It also said Mousavi had urged his supporters to attend the sermon.
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Iran supreme leader under pressure: Via Al Jazeera English - Middle East.

Iranians have taken to the streets in the wake of the country's disputed elections, but behind the public face of the election protests lies a deeper power struggle.

In the corridors of power, analysts see a battle between Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the reformist former president.

Khamenei had publicly endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadeinejad, the incumbent president, whose resounding election victory over Mir Hossein Mousavi, his main rival, prompted a wave of protests and allegations of voter fraud.

Rafsanjani, on the other hand, has been a vocal critic of the president.

One of Iran's richest men, Rafsanjani, like Mousavi, is also one of the old guard of the 1979 Iranian revolution.
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