TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran's opposition leaders were forced to quit Tehran rally by angry crowds of marchers on Friday, which marks the "Quds (Jerusalem) Day," Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

    Reformist opposition leaders -- Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami and Mehdi Karoubi -- were confronted with protest of angry crowds when they were showing up at Tehran streets and squares for "Quds (Jerusalem) Day" rally, IRNA's report said.

    The report said Khatami was forced to leave the area when marchers shouted "Death to the hypocrite" upon seeing him, while Karoubi's appearance also arose harsh protest by marchers.

    Mousavi was also confronted with such protest when he appeared at a crossroad at about 12:00 (0730 GMT), the report said, adding that some marchers hit windows of his car and forced him to leave.

    Thousands of supporters of opposition leaders, especially Mousavi, protested against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday, a witness told Xinhua.

    "They were shouting 'Death to the dictator' and riot police were stopping them from entering main squares and streets where Quds day rally was held by the government," the witness said, "but some of them were marching towards Tehran University where Ahmadinejad was delivering a speech."

    Another witness said that riot police armed with batons were beating protesters in central Haft-Tir square and detained tens of them.

    According to local English-language Press TV, millions of Iranians took to the streets in different cities to mark the annual Quds Day march in solidarity with Palestinians.

    At the end of the rallies, a statement was issued in support of Palestinians, which said that the Iranians "support Palestinian resistance and Israel must avoid any new adventurism" in the region.

    Friday's protest rally by supporters of opposition leaders was the latest since mid July.

    After the disputed June 12 presidential election, Iran has been the scene of a series of protests and unrest.

    According to Press TV, Iran's police have arrested 457 people in the post-election violence which has left at least 20 dead and hundreds of others injured.

    On June 29, Iran's Guardian Council confirmed the vote result, announcing the election file as closed.