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Iran's Musavi To Attend Friday Prayers

Mir Hossein Musavi

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July 16, 2009

TEHRAN (Reuters) -- Iran's opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi will attend Friday prayers this week in his first official public appearance since last month's disputed presidential election, a statement on his website said.

Musavi's statement, posted late on July 15, confirmed a media report earlier this week that he would attend the prayers at Tehran University to be led by former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a rival of reelected President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

Musavi, Ahmadinejad's main challenger in the June 12 presidential election, says the vote was rigged in the hard-line incumbent's favor. The authorities reject charges of vote fraud.

"Since I regard as obligatory responding to the invitation of the sympathisers and supporters in the path of safeguarding legitimate rights of a free and honorable life, I will maintain a presence alongside you on Friday," Musavi said.

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