[Al Arabiya Latest] Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi said on Friday Iran was in "serious crisis" and offered a five-point initiative to end the political gridlock in the Islamic republic. "Arresting or killing Mousavi, Karoubi ... will not calm the situation. I am not afraid to die for people's demands ... Iran is in serious crisis ... Harsh remarks ... will create internal uprising ... the election law should be changed ... political prisoners should be freed," Jaras website quoted a statement issued by Mousavi as saying.
In his first statement posted since deadly clashes last week, Mousavi also offered an initiative, outlined in five points, to the hardline conservatives in the government to resolve the worst internal crisis in the Islamic Republic's 30-year history.
He called on the government to be accountable to the people, the parliament and the judiciary, and to work in accordance with the law. He also called for a new election law that guarantees fair and just competition between candidates, and demanded the release of all the people arrested following the disputed June, 2010 election.
In his initiative, Miousavi also called for respecting freedom of expression and of the press by allowing newspapers that have been closed down to return to work and recognizing people's right to organize peaceful and legal demonstrations.
Anti-government protests erupted in Iran after its disputed June 12 presidential election, which secured President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election. Opposition leaders say the presidential vote was rigged. The government denies this.
The hardline authorities have intensified their crackdown on the opposition since Sunday, when eight people -- including a nephew of Mousavi -- were killed in fiery protests on the day of the Shiite Muslim ritual of Ashura.
Hardline leaders have accused opposition leaders of fomenting unrest and called for them to be punished. A representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that opposition leaders were "enemies of God" who should be executed.
Authorities have arrested at least 20 pro-reform figures, including three senior advisers to Mousavi, his brother-in-law and a sister of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
Iran's police chief has warned Mousavi's supporters they will face harsh treatment unless they halt their "illegal" rallies.