Iranians stage protests hours after president receives endorsement

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) - Hundreds of Iranians took to the streets here Monday night, hours after the country's supreme leader endorsed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second term in office.

Eyewitnesses and sources in the capital city said the crowds marched on the sidewalks around Vannak Square and Vali Asr Avenue, under the watchful eye of hundreds of Iranian security forces. Some chanted "Death to the dictator," while others said "God is great."

Security vehicles blocked many of the roads leading to Vannak Square, while riot police and members of the pro-government Basij militia patrolled the area on foot and on motorcycles.

One witness said he saw three people detained and taken away in a vehicle.

Ahmadinejad will be sworn in as president Wednesday in a ceremony to be held in parliament. The incumbent was declared the winner of the June 12 election with almost two-thirds of the vote.

Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi called the results a "fraud."

The results, surprising to many Iranians and political analysts, prompted sometimes violent demonstrations across the country as thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest.

Former parliament speaker Mehdi Karrubi, who also ran against Ahmadinejad in June, addressed the protesters on Monday, according to Iran's state-run Fars News Agency. It said Karrubi delivered an inciteful speech at Vali Asr Street, where only about 100 people took part in the "illegal gathering."

Fars reported that Karrubi did not attend Monday's endorsement ceremony for Ahmadinejad.

Under Iran's constitution, the incoming president must receive the supreme leader's approval before being sworn into office. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's endorsement is the first step in that process.

During the post-election demonstrations following the June 12 election, hundreds were detained, among them 50 "political figures" accused of playing key roles in the street demonstrations.

Nearly 100 Iranians arrested in the aftermath of the disputed elections went on trial Saturday, two Iranian news agencies reported.

An additional 10 people went on trial Sunday, according to government-funded Press TV.