WORLD> Middle East
Former Iranian president calls trial a sham
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-02 15:57

TEHRAN, Iran: Iran's former reformist President Mohammad Khatami has criticized the country's first trial of activists and protesters following the disputed presidential election as a sham.

Former Iranian president calls trial a sham
Iranian opposition leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi (R) and his close ally, former reformist president, Mohammad Khatami attend a service at a mosque in Tehran.[Agencies]

The trial of more than 100 people that started Saturday includes some of the most prominent politicians in the pro-reform movement, including Khatami's former vice president.

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A report posted late Saturday on Khatami's Web site quoted him as saying the "show" trial will further damage public confidence in the ruling Islamic establishment. He said he hopes the trial "will not lead to ignorance of the real crimes."

Khatami, who held office from 1997 to 2005, and many other reformists believe President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the June 12 election using massive vote fraud.