Didn't see the news yesterday, so whats happening atm?

 

 

 

Did hear on the radio that the home office (uk) have told people not to go to iran for non-essential reasons, like that wasn't obvious already?

HUGE UPDATE! Voting Results are said to incorrect by the election monitors!

 

 

TEHRAN Hours after a warning from the powerful Revolutionary Guards not to return to the streets, about a thousand protesters defiantly gathered in central Tehran on Monday and were quickly dispersed in an overwhelming show of force by police who used clubs and tear gas.

 

 

 

The protesters, far fewer than the numbers who had attended mass rallies last week, turned out despite the warning, on the Guards Web site, that they would face a revolutionary confrontation if they continued to challenge the results of the June 12 election and their countrys supreme leader, who has pronounced the ballot to be fair.

 

 

 

Even so, Irans most senior panel of election monitors, in the most sweeping acknowledgment that the election was flawed, said Monday that the number of votes cast in 50 cities exceeded the actual number of voters, according to a state television report.

 

 

 

The discrepancies could affect some three million ballots of what the government says was 40 million cast, giving the official victory to the incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

 

 

 

The authorities insisted that the discrepancies did not violate Iranian law. The Guardian Council, charged with certifying the election, said it was not clear whether they would decisively change the result, which placed Mir Hussein Moussavi who contends the election was stolen from him in a distant second.

 

 

 

He has urged his supporters to continue their defiance, but he could face arrest for doing so.

 

 

 

Moussavis calling for illegal protests and issuing provocative statements have been a source of recent unrests in Iran, Ali Shahrokhi, head of parliaments judiciary committee, semi-official Fars news agency reported, according to Reuters. Such criminal acts should be confronted firmly.

 

 

 

He added: The ground is paved to legally chase Moussavi.

 

 

 

Mr. Moussavi, the more moderate of the candidates, used a posting on his Web site Sunday night to urge his supporters to demonstrate peacefully, despite warnings from Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that no protests of the vote would be allowed.

 

 

 

Protesting to lies and fraud is your right, Mr. Moussavi said.

 

 

 

In an apparent response, a Guards statement Monday told protesters to be prepared for a resolution and revolutionary confrontation with the Guards, Basij and other security forces and disciplinary forces if they took their protests into a second week, news reports said.

 

 

 

The Basij is a militia accused by the protesters of brutally repressing demonstrations that culminated in a day of bloodshed on Saturday that ended in the deaths of at least 10 protesters, according to the state television.

 

 

 

The Guards told demonstrators Monday to end the sabotage and rioting activities, calling their protests a conspiracy against Iran. The warning echoed remarks by a Foreign Ministry spokesman who blamed western governments and media for the unrest.

 

 

 

The official result gave Mr. Ahmadinejad 63 percent of the ballots an 11-million vote advantage to Mr. Moussavis 34 percent. Turnout was put at 85 percent.

 

 

 

At a news conference Monday, Hassan Qashqavi, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, called the turnout a brilliant gem which is shining on the peak of dignity of the Iranian nation.

 

 

 

He accused unidentified western powers and news organizations, which are operating under extremely tight official restrictions, of spreading unacceptable anarchy and vandalism. But, he said, the outcome of the vote would not be changed. We will not allow western media to turn this gem into a worthless stone, he said.

 

 

 

Mr. Qashqavi drew comparisons with American election results.

 

 

 

No one encouraged the American people to stage a riot because they disagreed with the re-election of George W. Bush in 2004, he said. Britains Foreign Office said Monday that because of the continuing unrest it would evacuate the families of staff members based in Iran. A spokeswoman, who spoke in return for anonymity under civil service rules, said the violence in Tehran had a significant impact on the families of our staff who have been unable to carry on their lives as normal.

 

 

 

Quoted earlier by Press TV, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, the spokesman for the 12-member Guardian Council denied claims by another losing candidate, Mohsen Rezai, that irregularities had occurred in up to 170 voting districts.

 

 

 

Statistics provided by the candidates, who claim more than 100 percent of those eligible have cast their ballot in 80 to 170 cities are not accurate the incident has happened in only 50 cities, Mr. Kadkhodaei said.

 

 

 

But he said that a voter turnout in excess of the registered voting list was a normal phenomenon because people could legally vote in areas other than those in which they were registered. Nonetheless, some analysts in Tehran said, the number of people said to be traveling on election day seemed unusually high.

 

 

 

The news emerged on the English-language Press TV Web site late Sunday as a bitter rift among Irans ruling clerics deepened. As increasingly violent protests have swirled through Tehran since the elections, Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered the Guardian Council to investigate the oppositions allegations of electoral fraud. The council itself has offered a random partial recount of 10 percent of the ballot.

 

 

 

Mr. Kadkhodaei said the Guardian Council could recount votes in areas where irregularities were said by the opposition to have occurred. But it has yet to be determined whether the possible change in the tally is decisive in the election results.

 

 

 

The opposition has alleged a total of 646 electoral irregularities and is demanding that the vote be annulled. But in a sermon at Friday prayers last week Ayatollah Khamenei mocked the idea that the huge margin attributed to Mr. Ahmadinejad could have been won through fraud.

 

 

 

On Sunday, the police detained five relatives of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president who leads two influential councils and openly supported Mr. Moussavis election. The relatives, including Mr. Rafsanjanis daughter, Faezeh Hashemi, were released after several hours.

 

 

 

The developments, coming one day after protests here in the capital and elsewhere were crushed by police officers and militia members using guns, clubs, tear gas and water cannons, suggested that Ayatollah Khamenei was facing entrenched resistance among some members of the elite.

 

 

 

Though rivalries have been part of Iranian politics since the 1979 revolution, analysts said that open factional competition amid a major political crisis could hinder Ayatollah Khameneis ability to restore order.

 

 

 

There was no verifiable accounting of the death toll from the bloodshed on Saturday, partly because the government has imposed severe restrictions on news coverage and warned foreign reporters who remained in the country to stay off the streets.

 

 

 

It also ordered the BBCs longtime correspondent expelled and Newsweeks correspondent detained.

 

 

 

State television said that 10 people had died in the weekend clashes, while radio reports said 19. The news agency ISNA said 457 people had been arrested.

 

 

 

In the network of Internet postings and Twitter messages that has become the oppositions major tool for organizing and sharing information, a powerful and vivid new image emerged: a video posted on several Web sites that showed a young woman, called Neda, her face covered in blood. Text posted with the video said she had been shot. It was not possible to verify the authenticity of the video.

 

 

 

The Web site of another reformist candidate, Mehdi Karoubi, referred to her as a martyr who did not have a weapon in her soft hands or a grenade in her pocket but became a victim by thugs who are supported by a horrifying security apparatus.

 

 

 

Mr. Moussavi was not seen in public on Sunday but showed no sign of yielding. In his Web posting, he urged followers to avoid violence in your protest and behave as though you are the parents that have to tolerate your childrens misbehavior at the security forces.

 

 

 

He also warned the government to avoid mass arrests, which will only create distance between society and the security forces.

 

 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/world ... =2&_r=1&hp

 

 

 

Very good news, now to see how Iran and it's government handle this. However it seems that the opposition is still hell-bend to get the current government out of power.

 

 

 

Edit:

 

 

 

Statistics provided by the candidates, who claim more than 100 percent of those eligible have cast their ballot in 80 to 170 cities are not accurate the incident has happened in only 50 cities, Mr. Kadkhodaei said.

 

 

 

Are you kidding me?

So the election monitors says there was something wrong with the voting and the president says there isn't?

I have a feeling this is going to end badly. I wonder what will happen if there is a huge violent crackdown on the protesters? Would other countries intervene?

So the election monitors says there was something wrong with the voting and the president says there isn't?

 

The election monitors said something was wrong today, but the President said everything was correct.

 

 

 

It's getting more interesting.

So the election monitors says there was something wrong with the voting and the president says there isn't?

 

The election monitors said something was wrong today, but the President said everything was correct.

 

 

 

It's getting more interesting.

 

If you were president would you say you don't deserve it?

I have a feeling this is going to end badly. I wonder what will happen if there is a huge violent crackdown on the protesters? Would other countries intervene?

 

I stand by the theory that a violent crackdown is just going to unsettle the population further. It'll give everyone else a reason to fight back

I have a feeling this is going to end badly. I wonder what will happen if there is a huge violent crackdown on the protesters? Would other countries intervene?

 

I stand by the theory that a violent crackdown is just going to unsettle the population further. It'll give everyone else a reason to fight back

 

 

 

Isnt it such a shame with humanity that we need enough people to get killed before we do what is needed?

Seems like youtube is doing something for this.

 

Breaking News: For the latest videos from Iran, visit http://www.youtube.com/citizentube

Seems like youtube is doing something for this.

 

Breaking News: For the latest videos from Iran, visit http://www.youtube.com/citizentube

 

 

 

Yeah, but they're also being quite PC about it. Not just Iran [they say] but "... world changing events"

 

 

 

Also, why did the video of Neda the protester get removed ? I know it's very sad what happened to her, but it will provide some stimulus for people to acknowledge and also react.

I have a feeling this is going to end badly. I wonder what will happen if there is a huge violent crackdown on the protesters? Would other countries intervene?

 

 

 

 

 

And have the leaders of Iran blame it on the west again (especially the U.S and Britain)

considering the violence has been going on for a few days, I think its finally time for Obama to start taking a harder line on Iran. Nothing major, but we really need to start hearing condemnation of the violent crackdowns.

 

 

 

edit--obama did make a small statement in person saying he condemned the violence in Iran, might have happened before I posted I hadnt watched the news this morning.

considering the violence has been going on for a few days, I think its finally time for Obama to start taking a harder line on Iran. Nothing major, but we really need to start hearing condemnation of the violent crackdowns.

 

 

 

Then they'll just crack down further and denounce the protesters as agents of the west. Obama taking a harder line would just let the Iranians say "we told you so" to their own people. Obama is right to say little and be careful in what he does say because he doesn't want to untie the hands of the Iranian government.

Earlier this year or late last year, there was another revolt and riots that got alot of attention, I think it was in Myanmar, I forget though. That was put down brutally, and no one intervened and the riots ended. I hope that doesn't happen here. Of course, if Iran is a lot more known than Myanmar, so it will get more attention if something happens.

considering the violence has been going on for a few days, I think its finally time for Obama to start taking a harder line on Iran. Nothing major, but we really need to start hearing condemnation of the violent crackdowns.

 

 

 

Then they'll just crack down further and denounce the protesters as agents of the west. Obama taking a harder line would just let the Iranians say "we told you so" to their own people. Obama is right to say little and be careful in what he does say because he doesn't want to untie the hands of the Iranian government.

 

 

 

Agreed, and I think what he did today was the type of thing I was asking for, not going after the voting results or politics, just criticizing the use of violence against protestors.

 

 

 

This undated photo provided by Caspian Makan, 37-year-old photojournalist in Tehran who identified himself as Neda Agha Soltan's boyfriend purports to show grave sites of those who killed during the last week of demonstrations in Iran. The death of the woman identified as Neda Agha Soltan was captured on amateur videos and spread around the world in less than 48 hours on YouTube, Facebook, blogs and Twitter. (AP Photo/Courtesy Caspian Makan) ** EDS NOTE: THE AP CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS IMAGE BECAUSE OF REPORTING STRICTURES **

 

 

 

Date Created = 2009/06/22

 

 

 

Graves set aside for protesters. Didn't the Iran state TV only announce that seven people had been killed? Gotta be at least a 100 gravestones in that pic alone. Utterly horrifying.

So the election monitors says there was something wrong with the voting and the president says there isn't?

 

The election monitors said something was wrong today, but the President said everything was correct.

 

 

 

It's getting more interesting.

 

If you were president would you say you don't deserve it?

I can't really say, never been in that situation. I wish the president had morals and would admit he is doing wrong in Iran though.

 

 

 

On another figure of power, it really seems that the Supreme Leader is intend in staying in power.

 

 

 

I had insisted and will insist on implementing the law on the election issue, Ayatollah Khamenei told legislators, according to news reports. Neither the establishment nor the nation will yield to pressure at any cost.

 

 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/world ... ml?_r=1&hp

 

 

 

On another thing, while sad, it seems that the Iran Protesters now have a central figure in Neda. Going as far as calling her a "martyr". I'd admit, her name being "the call" is very surprising. The symbolism is unmistakable.

Looks like this thing is pretty much dead.

 

 

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31564910/ns ... stn_africa

 

 

 

Shame, really.

I like how Micheal Jackson dies and the whole media stops covering this, really shows our commitment to current events :roll:

I like how Micheal Jackson dies and the whole media stops covering this, really shows our commitment to current events :roll:

 

 

 

Just what I was thinking. I think more people know who Miley Cyrus is than Tony Blair :wall:

I like how Micheal Jackson dies and the whole media stops covering this, really shows our commitment to current events :roll:

 

 

 

Just what I was thinking. I think more people know who Miley Cyrus is than Tony Blair :wall:

 

 

 

Wasn't he George W. Bush's English Bulldog?

I like how Micheal Jackson dies and the whole media stops covering this, really shows our commitment to current events :roll:

 

 

 

It was pretty much over before MJ died. The big news was health care this week (in the US), that is what stopped getting covered (as much).

I like how Micheal Jackson dies and the whole media stops covering this, really shows our commitment to current events :roll:

 

 

 

Just what I was thinking. I think more people know who Miley Cyrus is than Tony Blair :wall:

 

 

 

Wasn't he George W. Bush's English Bulldog?

 

 

 

More like Scottish Terrier.

 

 

 

Though, I agree with Dizzle, more people probably know of her.

If some of you guys still care.

 

 

 

TEHRAN (AFP) Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi has released a new 25-page report detailing "fraud and irregularities" in the June 12 election.

 

 

 

The report, prepared by the Committee for the Protection of Votes which is run by Mousavi's campaign office, accused President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of abusing the state machinery during the campaign.

 

 

 

It charged that the hardline incumbent had distributed cash to secure the votes of working class Iranians.

 

 

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090705/wl ... otemousavi

 

 

 

Look @ how neat, new, and unfolded looking the ballots that are being recounted are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They can copy and paste!!

 

 

 

This time it may have fissled out, but things are still hot there, so next time he makes a mistake, he may not be around to make another afterwards.