Iranian Hardliner calls Mousavi US agent

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In Iran, a powerful newspaper editor has called the country's main opposition figure, Mirhossein Mousavi, a US agent.

Two women walk past a reflection of a mural with pictures of Iran's  late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and a member of the Basij  militia with a quote from Iran's Supreme Leader that reads, "The  breeding of Godly Basij youth is the victory of Imam (Ayatollah  Khomeini)", near a university during Tehran's Friday prayers, July 3, 2009. A newspaper editor seen as close to Iran's top authority said  Saturday defeated election candidate Mirhossein Mousavi and a former  pro-reform president had committed "terrible crimes" which  should be tried in court.REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

Hossein Shariatmadari is editor-in-chief of the hardline Kayhan Daily, and is considered to be in the inner circle of Iran's leadership. He said in an editorial that Mousavi and former reformist president Mohammad Khatami should go on trial for treason. The editor also said there were "undeniable documents" proving Mousavi's foreign links.

The editorial is the first public declaration to accuse the opposition leader of being a foreign agent. Shariatmadari doesn't hold a government position, but he is the powerful director of the Kayhan newspaper group and is seen as a close adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.