TEHRAN: Iran has rejected a request by defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi to hold a nationwide march on Monday to protest at the disputed election results, the interior ministry said.

"No authorisation for a march or gathering has been issued and any kind of gathering or march is illegal," an official with the ministry's public relations department told AFP.

"This statement is being issued after a request was made by Mr Mousavi to hold a march."

The former premier had submitted a request on Sunday to hold a march to protest the landslide re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a vote on Friday he claims was rigged.

Mousavi also lodged a formal appeal on Sunday calling for the result election to be annulled.