Friday prayer: Ahmadinejad calls for punishments

Ahmadinejad delivered the sermon at Friday prayers in Tehran today, and he used it to call for punishments for the leaders of post-election protests -- the first time he's made such a demand.

"Serious confrontation should take place with the leaders and main instigators of the incidents. Those who provoked, organised and implemented the enemy's line should be confronted firmly."

Ahmadinejad went on to say that "those from lower ranks" and "the ones who were deceived" should be treated with "Islamic compassion." The crowd responded by chanting "riot leaders should be executed," according to wire reports.

Ahmadinejad also criticized protesters for "beating up" Basij militiamen who were "protecting people's rights." These are the same Basij, of course, who played such a key role in stifling protests after the election.