US President Barack Obama has said he is appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments against demonstrators in Iran.
'I strongly condemn these unjust actions, and I join with the American people in mourning each and every innocent life that is lost,' Mr Obama said at a news conference.
He called accusations that US was instigating massive protests 'patently false and absurd.'
The Guardians Council, which earlier ruled out annulling the results of the election, later asked supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini for a five-day extension for candidates to make complaints about the poll.
The Ayatollah later granted that request.
The Council had said ‘In the recent presidential election we witnessed no major fraud or breach,’ according to spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodai.
‘Therefore, there is no possibility of an annulment taking place.’
Meanwhile, Britain ordered the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats after Tehran ordered two British diplomats to leave.
The president and new cabinet will be sworn in before parliament between 26 July and 19 August following the election, the official news agency IRNA said.
It did not specifically mention President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was declared the winner despite opposition complaints of irregularities.
Demonstrators have been gathering almost daily in Tehran since authorities said incumbent President Ahmadinejad had easily defeated challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi in the 12 June vote.
Iranian television said ten people were killed on Saturday and the Revolutionary Guards vowed yesterday to crush resistance by ‘rioters.’
Iran accuses Ban of interference
Iran accused has UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of interfering in its state matters after he urged an immediate halt to the use of force against civilians.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said: 'Mr Ban Ki-moon, under the influence of some powers, is ignoring the realities of Iran's election and his remarks are clearly contradicting his duties ... and are a clear interference in Iran's state matters.'
Yesterday, Mr Ban urged an immediate stop to the use of force against civilians in Iran and urged authorities to respect civil rights in dealing with protests over presidential election results.
A statement issued by his press office said he was dismayed by the post-election violence, 'particularly the use of force against civilians'.
The UN statement said Mr Ban 'calls on the authorities to respect fundamental civil and political rights, especially the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of information'.
The statement also said Mr Ban called on the Iranian government and the opposition to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue and legal means.
The bulk of the statement made clear that Mr Ban, whose only previous statement on the crisis called for the will of the Iranian people to be fully respected, was directing his main criticism at the authorities.
