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Iran opposition leader reported missing

As Iran's judiciary say opposition leaders will be prosecuted for seeking to undermine the nation's Islamic revolution, a key protest organizer is reported missing.
A man uses his shoe to hit a poster of reformist opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi during the funeral of student Sanee Zhaleh in Tehran
A man uses his shoe to hit a poster of reformist opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi on Wednesday during the funeral of Sanee Zhaleh, a student who was shot dead during an opposition rally on Monday.Stringer/iran / REUTERS
/ Source: msnbc.com staff and news service reports

A key Iranian protest organizer was reported missing Thursday as the nation's judiciary vowed on state television to prosecute opposition leaders for seeking to undermine the Islamic revolution.

Monday's rallies in Tehran and other cities, inspired by uprisings that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt, were the first big opposition protests since the authorities crushed demonstrations following a disputed 2009 presidential election.

Two people died, dozens were wounded and many more were arrested in the demonstrations, banned by the authorities, which were called by opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi in support of uprisings in the Arab world.

Government supporters and opponents clashed Wednesday at the funeral of Sanee Zhaleh, who was killed during Monday's rally, though both sides have claimed he backed their cause.

"The betrayal by the leaders of this sedition is obvious ... and the Islamic system will not tolerate any person harming the revolution," said judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani.

"Definitely they will be prosecuted."

Opposition leader missing
Mousavi's daughters told an opposition Web site that they had had no word from either of their parents since Tuesday and feared they had been detained, The New York Times reported. Security forces have surrounded their home, and all communications have been cut.

On Wednesday, Karoubi's Web site reported that the house of his eldest son had been raided and damaged by security officers seeking to arrest him.

Hardline Iranian lawmakers urged the judiciary Tuesday to impose death sentences on Karoubi and Mousavi for what they said was fomenting unrest.

Karoubi said Wednesday he was ready to "pay the price" for his actions but analysts believe any such against prominent opposition figures would only exacerbate tensions inside Iran.

Mousavi's and Karoubi's calls to protest have been posted on their websites and Larijani indicated the authorities would clamp down on this, though he did not elaborate.

More rallies urged
Opposition supporters plan another rally Sunday in commemoration of the victims of Monday's violence, Mousavi's website Kaleme said.

Tehran's Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi has warned opposition supporters that they face a firm response if they defy the authorities and rally, the students' news agency ISNA reported.

State-organized nationwide demonstrations will be held on Friday in an effort by the authorities to demonstrate popular support for the clerical establishment.

Opposition websites have also called on supporters to chant "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) at night, in a defiant sign that the pro-reform movement remains alive despite mounting pressure on its leaders.

The cry, embraced by opponents of Iran's last Shah who was deposed by the Islamic revolution in 1979, was adopted by the pro-reform movement during protests against the disputed 2009 presidential election result.