Iranian clerics say Ahmadinejad's election is "invalid"

The Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom, the biggest group of clerics in the country, was neutral during the course of the election but is now supporting Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated presidential candidate who supporters claim was the real victor of the election.

On its website the association said, "Candidates complaints and strong evidence of vote-rigging were ignored . . . Peaceful protests by Iranians were violently oppressed . . . Dozens of Iranians were killed and hundreds were illegally arrested . . . The outcome [of the election] is invalid," reports the Times Online

The association also said that other clerics should speak out against the situation and called for the release of all arrested protestors.

The statement is being seen as a direct challenge to the Guardian Council and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who have declared the election result to be final.

The association said, "How can one accept the legitimacy of the election just because the Guardian Council says so?"

The statement from the association should strengthen Mr Mousavi's position. At the weekend a senior aide to Ayatollah Khamenei called for the opposition leader to be arrested for his "terrible crimes".

Last week Mr Mousavi said that he was considering forming a new political group to challenge what he regards as an illegitimate government.