Ahmadinejad says protests, 'US, Israeli scenario'

Describing the deadly events on Ashura as a "nauseating play," President Ahmadinejad said "Americans and Zionists are the sole audience of a play they have commissioned and sold out."

"The Iranian nation has seen many such events," President Ahmadinejad was quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) as saying.

The remarks come as earlier on Sunday anti-government protestors took to some central and downtown streets in Tehran, chanting slogans against top Iranian government officials.

The Iranian police forces used tear gas to disperse protestors. Seven people were confirmed dead during the Sunday unrest.

Iran's Deputy Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said earlier that the force under his command did not use violence against protesters, denying any involvement in the killings.

Following the latest events in Iran on the religious ceremony of Ashura, Western countries condemned the crackdown on anti-government Iranian protesters.

Meanwhile, President Ahmadinejad condemned the reactions, urging Western countries to rethink their stance toward Iran.

He went on to say that the Iranian nation would demonstrate its solidarity to respond to Western interference in Iran's internal affairs.

/Press TV/