**Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is entering the week of his re-inauguration as Iran’s president amid allegations that election protesters were tortured.**Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to endorse him as winner of the 12 June vote in the next few hours, and he will be sworn in on Wednesday.
Election challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi accused the authorities of using torture to extract confessions.
About 100 reformists and activists were put on trial in Tehran on Saturday.
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD’S INAUGURAL WEEK
- Monday: endorsed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Wednesday: sworn in by parliament
Both Mr Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami denounced the hearings which continued on Sunday. The charges include conspiracy, rioting and vandalism.
They were among thousands of Iranians who rejected the official declaration that Mr Ahmadinejad had won the election.
Televised confessions have been broadcast, in which a former vice-president, among others, thanked his interrogator for showing him the error of his ways, the BBC’s Jon Leyne reports.
It looks more like an attempt to intimidate the opposition, than to present credible evidence, our Tehran correspondent says.
Some commentators, however, believe the trials are more likely just to fire up the anger of opposition supporters.
It is not clear exactly what opposition demonstrations are planned this week but the real challenge for Mr Ahmadinejad after his swearing-in may be whether he can assemble a credible team of ministers that will be endorsed by parliament, our correspondent says.
‘Trumped-up trials’
Mr Mousavi accused the authorities of forcing the detainees to confess to the crimes.
KEY DEFENDANTS
- Mohammad Ali Abtahi (left): former vice-president, member of the Assembly of Combatant Clerics
- **Mohsen Mirdamadi **(centre): leader of the biggest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front
- Behzad Nabavi (right): member of the central council of the Organisation of the Mujahideen of the Islamic Revolution, former industry minister and former vice speaker of parliament
- Mohsen Aminzadeh: former deputy foreign minister, served under reformist president Mohammad Khatami, member of Islamic Iran Participation Front
“The teeth of the torturers and confession-extorters have reached to the bones of the people,” he said.
“Witnessing such trumped-up trials, the only judgment that the conscience of humanity can make is the moral collapse and discredit of its directors.”
Mohsen Rezai, the only conservative to have challenged Mr Ahmadinejad in the election, also criticised the trial, saying people who had attacked the protesters should also be put on trial.
Earlier Fars news agency reported that a group of Iranian MPs had filed a complaint against Mr Mousavi several weeks ago, calling for him to be put on trial for “directing recent riots”.
Hardliner Mohammad Taghi Rahba said Mr Mousavi and Mr Khatami were the main culprits behind the unrest.
At Saturday’s trial, defendants in prison uniforms were seated flanked by guards. They included supporters of opposition leaders Mr Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and aides of Mr Khatami.
IRANIAN UNREST
- 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of vote
- Main challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled, alleging poll fraud
- Mass street protests saw at least 30 people killed and foreign media restricted
Foreign media, including the BBC, have been restricted in their coverage of Iran since the election protests turned into confrontations with the authorities in which at least 30 people were killed.
Opposition groups alleged widespread vote-rigging. Post-election protests saw the largest mass demonstrations in Iran since the 1979 revolution, which brought about the current Islamic system of government.
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