[Dawn] Iranian MPs called for the "maximum punishment" of opposition demonstrators on Tuesday after violent protests erupted during a Shia religious commemoration and eight people were killed.The conservative-dominated parliament condemned "disgusting comments" by Western governments about Sunday's unrest and accused the protesters of being "anti-religion" and "counter-revolutionaries."
"Parliament wants the judiciary and intelligence bodies to arrest those who insult religion and impose the maximum punishment on them without reservation," said the statement read out by parliament speaker Ali Larijani on television.
But the MPs appeared to be softer on opposition leaders, who reject President Mahmoud Ahmadienjad's June re-election as fraudulent, and urged them to distance themselves from the protests.
"We expect these gentlemen who had complaints in the election to wake up and clearly separate their path from this wicked movement, not to come out and issue statements again and make the air dustier."
The MPs hit out at US President Barack Obama over his "statement in favour of this group which committed anti-religion acts on Ashura" and said it was reminiscent of his predecessor George W. Bush.
"Such praise disgraces you and causes the system to act more firmly," the statement said.
Obama demanded on Monday that Iran free those protesters it had detained and told the opposition that history was on its side as he led Western nations in denouncing the Islamic regime's deadly crackdown.
"The United States joins with the international community in strongly condemning the violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranian citizens," Obama said in Hawaii where he is on holiday.
At least eight people were killed as security forces used teargas, batons and eventually live rounds to push back thousands who had taken to the street.
More than a dozen dissidents were also rounded up as the regime stepped up its crackdown on opposition.
The nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi -- Ahmadinejad's main challenger in the disputed June election -- was also shot dead in the demonstration.