Source: AP, 27-6-2009

BEIRUT: Lebanon's most influential Shiite cleric urged Iranians on Friday to close ranks after post-election street protests and accused Western media of exploiting the turmoil to vilify Iran's Islamic system. Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said the events have shown Iranians "how eager the arrogant world is to destroy their revolution and bring down their state."

During a Friday prayers sermon in a southern Beirut Shiite stronghold, Fadlallah blasted the West over its stance on Iran.
"Western tears are being shed in which they express their worry about what is happening in Iran," said Fadlallah.

Iranians should "work for their popular and political unity and heal the wounds suffered due to the dangerous foreign attack against them," said Fadlallah, alluding to criticism by Western leaders of the crackdown by Iranian authorities on opposition protests.