Supporters of Ahmadinejad, Mousavi hold separate rallies in Tehran: TV

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TEHRAN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Supporters of both Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi held separate massive rallies in Tehran on Tuesday, state television reported.

Thousands of pro-Ahmadinejad Iranians gathered at the Vali Asr Square in downtown Tehran for a "unifying rally," while supporters of Mousavi also held a massive rally at the Vanak Square upper north in the city.

At the Vali Asr Square, most of the people were supporters of Ahmadinejad and they were also protesting against recent "riots" on Iran's streets, mostly in Tehran.

Many demonstrators were holding pictures of Ahmadinejad and Iran's national flags, a sign the incumbent president had been using during his campaigns for the presidential election.

The pro-Ahmadinejad ralliers were chanting slogans in support of the president while inviting supporters of Mousavi to national unity by chanting "We are of the same nation," state-run Press TV's reporter said.

Addressing the crowds at the Vali Asr Square, former Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel urged defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi to accept his failure in the presidential race.

Press TV's reporter said later at the Vanak Square that the gathering of Mousavi's supporters had also turned into a massive rally and the demonstrators, who were carrying green banners of the Mousavi campaign, were calm.

A video grab from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) shows thousands of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad supporters, some waving Iranian flags, at a rally in Tehran June 16, 2009. REUTERS/IRIB via Reuters TV