Tehran, Aug 17 (DPA) The Tehran prosecutor's office has temporarily banned the country's main opposition newspaper Etemad Melli, the daily's website reported Monday.

The paper, which belongs to the reformist Etemad Melli party led by cleric Mehdi Karroubi, was not published Monday.

Karroubi has several times accused the establishment of torture and even sexual abuse of prisoners jailed for their protests against alleged fraud in the June 12 election which led to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning a second term.

Karroubi was a candidate challenging Ahmadinejad in the election.

Eyewitnesses said dozens of opposition supporters gathered Monday afternoon in front of the daily's building in Tehran protesting against the closure.