There have been several clashes between protesters and the police [AFP]

In his first public appearance since the elections three days ago, Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated presidential candidate, told supporters at the Tehran rally on Monday that he would take part if new elections were called.

"The vote of the people is more important than Mousavi or any other person," he said.

The demonstrators headed toward the capital's huge Freedom Square in the largest display of opposition to the election results to date.

"Mousavi we support you! We will die but retrieve our votes!" shouted supporters, many wearing the trademark green colour of Mousavi's election campaign.

Stick-wielding men on motorcycles scuffled with some of the marchers, who wore Mousavi's green campaign colours.

There have been several clashes between Mousavi supporters and riot police since Ahmadinejad was declared the landslide winner.

International criticism

Iran has faced a growing international backlash over the validity of the polls.

The European Union has said it plans to demand clarification of Ahmadinejad's victory and both France and Germany have summoned the respective Iranian ambassadors to account for events.

Pro-Ahmadeinejad supporters gathered outside both the British French embassies in Tehran, protesting against interference from foreign powers.

Some chanted slogans against the "plots of Iran's Western enemies", a witness said.

Mohammad Khatami, Iran's reformist former president, assailed the authorities for denying permission for the pro-Mousavi rally and said the election has dented public trust.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has ordered officials to look into the election complaints.

The 12-man Guardian Council said it would rule within 10 days on the two official complaints it has received from Mousavi and Mohsen Rezaie, another losing candidate.

The council headed by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who endorsed Ahmadinejad before the vote, vets election candidates and must formally approve the results for the outcome to stand.

'Pandora's box'

Pro-Ahmadinejad supporters protested against what they said was foreign interference [AFP]

Earlier in the day, about 400 pro-reform students, many wearing green face masks to conceal their identity, gathered earlier at a mosque in Tehran University and demanded Ahmadinejad's resignation.

Some said a religious armed group had attacked their dormitory.

"They hit our friends and took away at least 100 students. We have no news about their whereabouts," said another student.

University officials denied the reported incident.

Ebrahim Yazdi, leader of the banned opposition Freedom Movement, said Ahmadinejad's attacks on his opponents had opened a "Pandora's box" which had led to a deep crisis within the Islamic state's establishment.

"The result of such a crisis now is that the rift among the ... personalities in the revolution is getting deeper," he said.

"It is also between people and their government ... a rift between state and the nation. It is the biggest crisis since the [1979] revolution."

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