Sunday 21 June 2009

IRAN ~ PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

“This is the most contested and divisive election in the history of the Islamic Republic. It is the most extreme instance of this sense of empowerment, even in an imperfect election. At this time the fate of our people rests on the results." said this young man.

TEHRAN,
June 21 (UPI) ~

Public disagreement between Iranian leaders widened Sunday after violent clashes between police and protesters left at least 19 dead, sources said.

Unconfirmed reports put the death toll as high as 150, CNN reported.

It was unclear if more protests regarding the disputed presidential election were planned in Tehran Sunday, though reports said anti-government protesters planned to take to the streets late in the day.

Amateur video published on social networking sites Saturday showed police and militia going up against tens of thousands of protesters with guns, truncheons, water cannons and tear gas, The New York Times reported

Ali Karijani, Iran's influential parliamentary speaker, Sunday accused the Guardian Council of siding with one candidate he did not name in a review of the disputed election, CNN reported.

Mir Hossein Moussavi

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi have alleged the council, which verifies election results, declared hard-line incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of the election despite signs of voting fraud.

"A majority of people are of an opinion separate" from that of a minority, Larijani told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

Larijani's statement runs counter to that of Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who has said there was almost no possibility of ballot fraud in the June 12 election.

Members of a pro-government Basij militia run as demonstrators gather on the streets to protest the results of the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, Iran on June 20, 2009.

During the night over 50 gas stations were set ablA supporter of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrates against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)aze in Tehran.

An injured supporter of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is carried to safety after shots were fired during a massive demonstration against the results of the recent presidential election, in Tehran on June 15, 2009. Seven people were killed in demonstrations according to state radio. (UPI Photo)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah)

A man helps an injured supporter of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi after shots were fired during a massive demonstration against the results of the recent presidential election, in Tehran on June 15, 2009. Seven people were killed in demonstrations according to state radio. (UPI Photo)

A supporter of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi shows victory sign as she passes riots while they gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

As Azadi (freedom) tower is seen on the background, a massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi clash with a injured riot police as they gather on the streets to prevent demonstrating against the results of the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo) |

An injured woman is carried away as Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

An injured Iranian woman is seen after Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009.

A motorcycle burns as supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi gather on the streets to protest the results of the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi hold a red rose as show victory sign while a massive demonstration is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah) |

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah)

Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

A motorcycle burns as supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi gather on the streets to protest the results of the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Iran's reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi (C) waves among his supporters on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo)

Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

A massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is formed as supporters gather on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi hold his picture as they show victory sign during a massive demonstration in support of their candidate on the streets of Tehran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, in Tehran, Iran on June 15, 2009. The march came hours after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an examination into election fraud. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah)

Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Members of a pro-government militia stand guard on a rooftop during massive demonstration in support of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi protesting the results of the recent presidential election, in Tehran on June 15, 2009. Seven people were killed in demonstrations according to state radio. (UPI Photo)

Iranian riot police clash march down the street toward a demonstration against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Iranian riot police clash with supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi as they demonstrate against the results of the Iranian presidential election, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Iranian riot police clash with one of supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi while they gather on the streets to prevent demonstrating against the results of the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, Iran on June 13, 2009. (UPI Photo)

Supporters of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad react during a rally in Tehran, Iran on June 14, 2009. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi)

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during Friday Prayer in Tehran, Iran on June 19, 2009. Khamenei warned protesters of a crackdown and said the presidential elections were fair.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at mosque prayer (Jumma) Friday, June 19, 2009

A girl holds up an image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi gather on the streets of Tehran, Iran to demonstrate against the results of the Iranian election on June 18, 2009.

A Protester holds an image of Mousavi on the streets of Tehran, meanwhile the Iranian government continued its crackdown on prominent opposition figures, political analysts and journalists (UPI Photo)

Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami have asked Iran's courts to subdue post-election violence and release protesters who have been arrested, CNN said. Amnesty International said its monitoring indicated rallies also were staged in Tabriz, Bobol, Shiraz, Mashad and Zahedan. (UPI Photo)

1 comment:

  1. But, what does Barbara think?

    I am all for people rising up against repressive regimes, but this seems really silly and strange.

    I don't know about the opposition guy, is he a Zionist puppy or what?

    Is it CIA and Mossad, or 'the people', doing it?

    It could be, that we are more informed than a lot of the Iranian people.

    Why are they not rallying against Israhell, which has stated it's intention of destroying them?

    All the hallmarks of Zionism are there, complete with the yellow press J-wsmedia in the West helping to destabilize their sworn enemy.

    I know that some of the reportage on the BBC showing a reported protest, was actually in support of Ahmadinejad!

    ReplyDelete

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