Thousands mourn Iranians killed in protests

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.

By Parisa Hafezi and Hossein Jaseb

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Iranians, wearing black and carrying candles, marched on Thursday to mourn those killed in mass protests against a presidential election they and defeated candidate Mirhossein Mousavi say was rigged.

Chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest), they massed in downtown Imam Khomeini Square, responding to Mousavi's call for people to gather in mosques or at peaceful rallies to show solidarity with the victims and their families.

Days of public fury over the disputed election led Iran's top legislative body, the Guardian Council, to invite Mousavi and the two other candidates beaten by hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss their complaints on Saturday.

The election has provoked Iran's biggest and most violent demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic revolution, rocking the world's fifth biggest oil exporter which is also caught up in a dispute with the West over its nuclear programme.

Iranian state media has reported seven or eight people killed in protests since the election results were published on June 13. Scores of reformists have been arrested across the country and authorities have cracked down on both foreign and domestic media.

Demonstrators held photographs of those killed, some showing bloodied faces, apparently taken after they died.

"Our martyred brothers we will take back your votes," read one placard. "Why did you kill our brothers?" said another.