| A reformist former government spokesman, Abdullah Ramezanzadeh, who backed opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi in the vote, was sentenced by a court for six years in jail. The charges against Ramezanzadeh include acting against national security, propagating against the Islamic system and possessing classified documents. The report of his jail sentence coincides with mounting tension in Iran after the death of a leading dissident ayatollah and opposition reports of clashes between the cleric's supporters and security forces in the city of Isfahan. Ramezanzadeh, who held his post during the 1997-2005 presidency of reformer Mohammad Khatami, was among scores of senior pro-reform figures and activists detained after the poll on accusations of fomenting post-election unrest. "Based on the court's decision Ramezanzadeh was given a six-year obligatory jail sentence," Fars news agency quoted a Revolutionary court statement as saying. It did not say when the verdict was issued. Revolutionary courts usually handle security cases. Last month, Iranian media said reformist former vice president Mohammad Ali Abtahi was also sentenced to six years in jail. He was later released on bail of $700,000 pending appeal. |