Iranian leaders resist growing demands for referendum on constitution

Hardline parliamentarians insist only response to recent unrest is for violent protesters to be executed

The Iranian leadership is resisting growing demands from clerics and some reformist politicians to stage a new referendum on Iran's constitution as hardline parliamentarians meanwhile insist the only response to the recent unrest sweeping the country is for violent protesters to be executed.

The power struggle among the country's rulers appears to leave the government sending out mixed messages on how to respond to the protests, but in practice the security forces have gone ahead with a severe crackdown and arrested nearly 10,000 people, including 60 journalists.