TEHRAN, July 19: Tens of thousands of Iranians chanting “Death to America, death to George Bush” took to the streets on Friday in an official demonstration of protest against US interference in Iran’s affairs.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the rally to show popular opposition to US President George W. Bush’s statement last week voicing support for reform in Iran.

Crowds around Tehran University - the main venue for Friday prayers in the Iranian capital - burnt an effigy of Bush with a sign around its neck saying: “I made a mistake.”

“From the start, we said we want America to change its arrogant behaviour against Iran and accept that Iran is a free, Muslim, independent country,” influential former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told worhippers who lined the streets around the university campus.

“We tell the Americans to put aside their arrogant behaviour, then this nation could start dialogue with you and talk to you,” said Rafsanjani, a top adviser to Khamenei.

Soldiers, civil servants and hordes of women in black chadors joined the demonstration, but there were also a number of pro-reform students present.

“We don’t want the United States’ support, we want reforms,” said student Ahmad Ali Aminiha.

SLAP IN THE MOUTH” FOR BUSH: The US administration traditionally shies away from commenting on Iran’s internal politics for fear of further strengthening powerful conservatives in their campaign to undermine reformists allied to President Mohammad Khatami.

Rafsanjani pointed to the tens of thousands at Friday’s rally compared to the roughly 4,000 disaffected youths who clashed with security forces on the third anniversary of violent student unrest on July 9.

Khamenei said on Wednesday that Khatami had given Bush a “slap in the mouth” by condemning his statement on reform.