karroubi

In his interview with the Guardian, Karroubi condemned Ashtiani's sentence and said he was opposed to stoning in principle.

The implication was that Mr Karroubi could be punished if, as seems likely, his claims are dismissed.

Karroubi said he still believed in the Islamic republic, but not the current ruling system.

Mehdi Karroubi, an opposition candidate for president in this month's election, called her a martyr on his Web site.

Karroubi's willingness to speak out in such graphic terms has drawn a barrage of criticism from Iranian conservatives.

Periodic tallies released throughout the day by the Interior Ministry showed Mr. Karroubi narrowly clinging to second place.

Fearing a backlash, the authorities have so far refrained from arresting Mr Moussavi or Mr Karroubi. But they are laying the ground.

One hardline cleric has called for Karroubi, who came third in the election, to be prosecuted for making the claims.

His reformist rival, Mehdi Karroubi, a liberal cleric and former speaker of parliament, has also boldly attacked the incumbent.

But undaunted, Karroubi has gone further, saying some detainees were tortured to death.

Mr Karroubi's protests at the time were quashed by the supreme leader.

The movement does not need Mr Mousavi or Mr Karroubi to survive.

An opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, claimed that both female and male prisoners suffered brutal and repeated sexual torture. See article