Large number of Iranians gather in Tehran for "unifying rally":state TV

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TEHRAN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Iranians gathered in downtown Tehran Tuesday afternoon for a "unifying rally," Iran's state television reported.

Most of the people were supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and they were also protesting against recent "riots" on Iran's streets, mostly in Tehran, according to the state television.

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.

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.

Earlier Tuesday, Mousavi's supporters were reportedly planning to hold a massive rally at the same square, but later Mousavi urged them not to go there, warning that people "should be careful not to be trapped in the preplanned confrontation."

All the parties and groups in support of Mousavi were trying to get permission to stage rallies in protest against "the election irregularities, the violence and the martyrdom of some of our countrymen," according to Mousavi's statement.

On Saturday afternoon, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total ballots during Friday's vote, while his main rival Mousavi got 33.75 percent.

After the official declaration, Mousavi protested "strongly" the "obvious" violations in Iran's presidential election.