Iran put another 10 post-election detainees on trial Sunday, one day after beginning a mass trial for detained activists, politicians and protesters arrested after the June 12 presidential election.
Iranian state media report that the 10 people who went on trial in a closed courtroom Sunday were arrested in the streets during the post-vote unrest.
Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, who now heads one of the largest reform parties in the country, has criticized the trial that opened Saturday as unconstitutional.
Mr. Khatami lashed out at the court's tactics Sunday and called the judicial proceedings a "show" trial. He says prosecutors are relying on confessions that were illegally obtained.
In the courtroom Saturday, prosecutors accused more than 100 Iranian detainees of organizing massive demonstrations and plotting to overthrow the government of Iran.
Among the accused are several high-ranking politicians, including former Vice President Mohammed Ali Abtahi who served with Mr. Khatami, the former vice speaker of parliament, Behzad Nabavi, and one-time government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh.
The opposition says the election was rigged and the results were tainted. But Iranian officials have confirmed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election victory.
In other news, Iranian media report the president's press advisor has stepped down. Ali Akbar Javanfekr announced his resignation on Sunday. He said he wanted to give Mr. Ahmadinejad the chance to pick someone new for this new term.
Javanfekr, a close ally of the president, said he has not been nominated to another post.
Mr. Ahmadinejad will be sworn in for a second term on August 5. The president has two weeks from that date to unveil his new cabinet.
Some information for this report was provided by ?AP, AFP.
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