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Iranians Gather to Mark Death Anniversary of Late Supreme Leader
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians dressed in black gathered in Tehran on Monday to mark the 12th anniversary of the death of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Mussavi Khomeini.
Khomeini, leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic, died on June 4, 1989.
The commemorations at the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum in southern Tehran started at 9:00 a.m. (0430 GMT) with the recitation of verses from the holy Koran.
Iran's incumbent Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, President Mohammad Khatami and Majlis (parliament) speaker Mahdi Karrubi as well as foreign diplomats attended the event.
Mourners across the country carried pictures of the late Imam Khomeini and his successor Khamenei. All the highways and streets leading to the mausoleum were jammed as huge number of mourners have been coming to the capital by vehicle, as well as on foot, since Sunday.
In an address on the occasion, Khamenei called on the Iranians to follow Khomeini's guidelines and safeguard the achievements of the Islamic Revolution.
Islam, people, rule of law and vigilance against enemy are the key factors observed by late Imam in founding the Islamic Republic, he stressed.
In Tehran, black flags and banners were hanging from public buildings and shops and businesses have been closed.
The ceremonies will be coincided with the country's eighth presidential elections slated on June 8, which pro-reform Khatami seems to be a clear favorite to win.
Analysts here said that the conservative-dominated Islamic regime might use the anniversary as a chance to teach millions of young voters to follow the cause of the Islamic Revolution initiated by late Khomeini.
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