Iran's President Mohammad Khatami has called for a massive turnout in Tehran Monday to mark the 23rd anniversary of the founding of Iran's Islamic Republic.

In a speech carried over nationwide television, Mr. Khatami urged Iranians, without partisan consideration, to join hands in a show of fidelity to the revolution and the memory of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who returned from exile in France in 1979 to lead the overthrow of the Shah.

He said a big turnout was also important because of - what he called "accusations and threats" leveled against the Iranian nation. This was an apparent reference to comments by President Bush in his State of the Union address lumping Iran with Iraq and North Korea in what he called an "axis of evil."

President Bush and other U.S. officials have accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism, developing weapons of mass destruction and interfering in neighboring Afghanistan.

Iranian leaders have denied the charges.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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