Tehran - The ongoing trial of 100 activists, including several former Iranian officials reflects the a deep problem existing in Iran, opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi was quoted as saying on his website Wednesday.

"These hectic trials just reflect the deep problem which exists in our country," Moussavi said in a meeting Monday with his young supporters.

The opposition leader was referring to the trial of more than 100 activists, including former Iranian officials such as Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, deputy of former reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), which began last Saturday.

The second day of the trial was originally set for Thursday, but the official news agency IRNA quoted an informed source as saying Wednesday that the hearing had been put back until next Saturday.

The activists - and the former officials - are charged with fomenting a "Velvet Revolution" against the country's Islamic system, following the disputed June 12 presidential elections.

The term Velvet Revolution is a reference to the bloodless revolt that forced the collapse of the Communist regime in then-Czechoslovakia in 1989.

The opposition decried the trial and Khatami even termed it as "a stage show" harming the credibility of the establishment.

"Its is definitely not a source of pride to publicly expose such personalities in a mass trial," Moussavi said.

"We made a [Islamic revolution in 1979] revolution so that trials were against criminals. We wanted trials with lawyers, trials with rights for the defendants, trials where the judge acts independently and trials which make the people feel justice prevailing," he added.

He once more denied any links between his "green movement" and foreign countries, as charged by the court, and while referring to his ultra-conservative opponents, said a society with only one political voice was not a suitable one.

"We have to learn to face other standpoints, listen to what they say, elaborate our own viewpoints and pay attention to their elaborations as well," Moussavi said.

The June 12 presidential vote led to the re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Defeated moderate candidates Moussavi and Mehdi Karrubi accused the authorities of rigging the election, prompting tens of thousands of their supporters to protest in Tehran and other major cities.

The trial is the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution that dozens of former officials and prominent activists have been put on trial together for acting against national security.

At least 20 people were killed during the protests, and over 1,000 political activists and journalists were arrested. Many were subsequently released, but about 250 reportedly remain in detention.(dpa)