TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued a statement praising the people's "unique" participation in Friday's presidential election and saying the elected president is all Iranian citizens' president. "The participation of over 80 percent of (eligible) people... and the 24 million votes for the elected president are a real celebration that, God willing, will guarantee the country's progress and security," he said in the statement issued on Saturday. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected president after receiving 24,527,516 votes, which was 62.63 percent of the 39 million votes cast in Friday's election. Main challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi received 13,216,411 votes, which was 33.75 percent of the turnout. The Iranian nation has proven that 30 years after the Islamic Revolution, they are still loyal to its revolutionary values and showed their "friends and enemies" that despite all the political and psychological pressure, they will stay the course, the Supreme Leader said in his statement.
TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued a statement praising the people's "unique" participation in Friday's presidential election and saying the elected president is all Iranian citizens' president.
"The participation of over 80 percent of (eligible) people... and the 24 million votes for the elected president are a real celebration that, God willing, will guarantee the country's progress and security," he said in the statement issued on Saturday. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected president after receiving 24,527,516 votes, which was 62.63 percent of the 39 million votes cast in Friday's election. Main challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi received 13,216,411 votes, which was 33.75 percent of the turnout. The Iranian nation has proven that 30 years after the Islamic Revolution, they are still loyal to its revolutionary values and showed their "friends and enemies" that despite all the political and psychological pressure, they will stay the course, the Supreme Leader said in his statement.
Up to 100 members of Iranian reformist groups have been arrested, accused of orchestrating violence after the disputed presidential election result.Backers of defeated reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi were rounded up overnight, reports said, including the brother of ex-President Khatami. There were reports of new small-scale clashes on Sunday ahead of a planned victory rally by President Ahmadinejad. At a news conference, he vowed Iran would not be bullied by foreign powers. Describing the the election as an "epic moment", he praised a "very accurate" vote, and said the government had little opportunity to influence procedures.
Up to 100 members of Iranian reformist groups have been arrested, accused of orchestrating violence after the disputed presidential election result.
Backers of defeated reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi were rounded up overnight, reports said, including the brother of ex-President Khatami.
There were reports of new small-scale clashes on Sunday ahead of a planned victory rally by President Ahmadinejad.
At a news conference, he vowed Iran would not be bullied by foreign powers.
Describing the the election as an "epic moment", he praised a "very accurate" vote, and said the government had little opportunity to influence procedures.
A smash in the face, a kick in the balls - that's how police deal with protesters after Iran's poll kept the hardliners in powerFirst the cop screamed abuse at Mir Hossein Mousavi's supporter, a white-shirted youth with a straggling beard and unkempt hair. Then he smashed his baton into the young man's face. Then he kicked him viciously in the testicles. It was the same all the way down to Vali Asr Square. Riot police in black rubber body armour and black helmets and black riot sticks, most on foot but followed by a flying column of security men, all on brand new, bright red Honda motorcycles, tearing into the shrieking youths - hundreds of them, running for their lives. They did not accept the results of Iran's presidential elections. They did not believe that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won 62.6 per cent of the votes. And they paid the price. "Death to the dictator," they were crying on Dr Fatimi Street, now thousands of them shouting abuse at the police. Were they to endure another four years of the smiling, avuncular, ever-so-humble President who swears by democracy while steadily thinning out human freedoms in the Islamic Republic? They were wrong, of course. Ahmadinejad really does love democracy. But he also loves dictatorial order. He is not a dictator. He is a Democrator.
First the cop screamed abuse at Mir Hossein Mousavi's supporter, a white-shirted youth with a straggling beard and unkempt hair. Then he smashed his baton into the young man's face. Then he kicked him viciously in the testicles. It was the same all the way down to Vali Asr Square. Riot police in black rubber body armour and black helmets and black riot sticks, most on foot but followed by a flying column of security men, all on brand new, bright red Honda motorcycles, tearing into the shrieking youths - hundreds of them, running for their lives. They did not accept the results of Iran's presidential elections. They did not believe that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won 62.6 per cent of the votes. And they paid the price.
"Death to the dictator," they were crying on Dr Fatimi Street, now thousands of them shouting abuse at the police. Were they to endure another four years of the smiling, avuncular, ever-so-humble President who swears by democracy while steadily thinning out human freedoms in the Islamic Republic? They were wrong, of course. Ahmadinejad really does love democracy. But he also loves dictatorial order. He is not a dictator. He is a Democrator.
The United States and the European Union have reacted cautiously to the Iranian election in which incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been declared winner. The EU nevertheless said it hoped to resume dialogue over Tehran's nuclear programme. The European Union, as well as world powers including France, the United States, and Britain, reacted cautiously Saturday to the disputed Iranian presidential election in which incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been declared winner. The European Union expressed concern about alleged irregularities in Iran's presidential election on Saturday, but said it hoped to resume dialogue with Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme. In a statement, the Czech EU presidency noted the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second four-year term and also said it was concerned about violence that erupted after the official results were announced.
The European Union, as well as world powers including France, the United States, and Britain, reacted cautiously Saturday to the disputed Iranian presidential election in which incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been declared winner. The European Union expressed concern about alleged irregularities in Iran's presidential election on Saturday, but said it hoped to resume dialogue with Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme. In a statement, the Czech EU presidency noted the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second four-year term and also said it was concerned about violence that erupted after the official results were announced.
The Presidency of the Council of the EU closely followed the course of the Presidential elections held on 12 June 2009 and notices Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected for the second term as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Presidency is concerned about alledged irregularities during the election process and post-electional violence that broke out immediately after the release of the official election results on 13 June 2009.
The Presidency is concerned about alledged irregularities during the election process and post-electional violence that broke out immediately after the release of the official election results on 13 June 2009.
I'm really just amazed by the folks in Iran, because beaten and killed by the Pasdaran and Asnar-Hezbollah, and not backing down. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
The Dubai-based Arabic language satellite news channel al Arabiya, which can be viewed in Iran, reported that authorities ordered its bureau here closed for a week, and access to the social networking site Facebook remained blocked. Text messaging, a major means of communication here, continued to be unavailable.
NATO defense ministers have agreed to continue the alliance's anti-piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa when the current mission ends later this month. Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, the ministers decided to expand their five-ship maritime force off the coast of Somalia to 10 warships when the current mandate expires on June 28. British Defense Minister Bob Ainsworth said the group had agreed to make the NATO flotilla "available for further, long-term counter-piracy activities to complement the many assets doing this job in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden." NATO ministers, however, were still discussing whether or not to divert the additional ships from their Mediterranean forces or put together an entirely new force.
Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, the ministers decided to expand their five-ship maritime force off the coast of Somalia to 10 warships when the current mandate expires on June 28.
British Defense Minister Bob Ainsworth said the group had agreed to make the NATO flotilla "available for further, long-term counter-piracy activities to complement the many assets doing this job in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden."
NATO ministers, however, were still discussing whether or not to divert the additional ships from their Mediterranean forces or put together an entirely new force.
Grinning broadly and protesting their desire only for the "peaceful life", four Chinese Muslims released from Guantanamo Bay enjoyed the delights of their new home over the weekend. That meant fried Bermudan rock fish with banana and almonds, and a monumental row about their arrival in Britain's oldest colony. Their celebratory meal, joined by The Sunday Telegraph after this newspaper tracked them down to their hideaway in a guesthouse in a remote corner of Bermuda, was washed down with water and a heavy dose of relief and gratitude toward their hosts.
That meant fried Bermudan rock fish with banana and almonds, and a monumental row about their arrival in Britain's oldest colony.
Their celebratory meal, joined by The Sunday Telegraph after this newspaper tracked them down to their hideaway in a guesthouse in a remote corner of Bermuda, was washed down with water and a heavy dose of relief and gratitude toward their hosts.
By the yardstick of Jacques, the melancholy philosopher-clown in William Shakespeare's play As You Like It, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has indisputably passed the stage of "Mewing and pucking in the nurse's arms". Nor is SCO anymore the "whining schoolboy, with his satchel/And shining morning face, creeping like snail/Unwillingly to school". The SCO more and more resembles Jacques' lover, "Sighing like a furnace, with a woeful ballad/Made to his mistress' eyebrow." Indeed, if all the world's a stage and the regional organizations are players who make their exits and entrances, the SCO is doing remarkably well playing many parts. That it has finally reached adulthood is beyond dispute.
(CNN) -- Venezuela has promised to give Nicaragua $50 million to replace money that the United States said this week it would withhold from the Central American country, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Saavedra said Saturday.Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez promised the aid after Ortega learned that the United States was canceling $62 million of aid that was to have come from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S.-government-funded anti-poverty fund set up by former President George W. Bush. Ortega expressed disappointment in President Barack Obama for the decision. "He expresses good will, but in practice, he has the same policies as President Reagan," Ortega told a crowd of supporters in Managua's Plaza of the Revolution. In 1982, then-President Reagan supported funding the contras, the forces opposed to Ortega and his socialist Sandinista Party, which had come to power after overthrowing the U.S.-backed Anastasio Somoza in 1979. Ortega called this week's decision not to follow through on the payment "disrespectful."
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez promised the aid after Ortega learned that the United States was canceling $62 million of aid that was to have come from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S.-government-funded anti-poverty fund set up by former President George W. Bush.
Ortega expressed disappointment in President Barack Obama for the decision. "He expresses good will, but in practice, he has the same policies as President Reagan," Ortega told a crowd of supporters in Managua's Plaza of the Revolution.
In 1982, then-President Reagan supported funding the contras, the forces opposed to Ortega and his socialist Sandinista Party, which had come to power after overthrowing the U.S.-backed Anastasio Somoza in 1979.
Ortega called this week's decision not to follow through on the payment "disrespectful."
Hello America! Greetings from Wales in the UK. How are things in the colonies these days? Getting along OK without us? Anyway, back to the nature of the debate. We have slightly different problems to you. Over here most people work and shop within 10 miles of where they live, so the slow death of the motorcar won't affect us as quickly as yourselves. What we have is a massive & complicated debt problem. Ireland (a little neighbour of ours just off our west coast) has just had it's S & P credit rating downgraded for the second time in three months. They belong to a 'Mickey Mouse' currency called the Euro (which, daft as we are and in the EU with them, we weren't daft enough to join a false currency). Then we have the Baltic states - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Latvia is a basket case. It will devalue it's currency some time this week as well as slash public sector pay. It is on the verge of total collapse financially and socially ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5438615/Latvian-debt-crisis-shakes- Eastern-Europe.html and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5446658/European-banks-in-spotlight -as-Baltic-crisis-hits-Sweden.html ). Their neighbours (Lithuania and Estonia) are heavily entwined with them and also financially in ruins. In turn, Scandanavian banks - particularly Sweden, are heavily exposed and underwriting them in turn is Switzerland and Germany. A little bit further over is Ukraine - also on the verge of collapse and serious social upheavel. The only people who are willing to help Ukraine are the Russians - but only if they move out of the west's sphere of influence into theirs (similar deal on the table for the Baltic states. The re-birth of the USSR perhaps?) And then in our country we have neo-nazis winning electoral respectability and our two main poiltical parties mired in sleaze and financial scandal. So over here in Europe, it's like a giant game of Jenga. Only we're playing it drunk, in blindfolds, with boxing gloves.
Hello America! Greetings from Wales in the UK. How are things in the colonies these days? Getting along OK without us?
Anyway, back to the nature of the debate.
We have slightly different problems to you. Over here most people work and shop within 10 miles of where they live, so the slow death of the motorcar won't affect us as quickly as yourselves.
What we have is a massive & complicated debt problem.
Ireland (a little neighbour of ours just off our west coast) has just had it's S & P credit rating downgraded for the second time in three months. They belong to a 'Mickey Mouse' currency called the Euro (which, daft as we are and in the EU with them, we weren't daft enough to join a false currency). Then we have the Baltic states - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Latvia is a basket case. It will devalue it's currency some time this week as well as slash public sector pay. It is on the verge of total collapse financially and socially ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5438615/Latvian-debt-crisis-shakes- Eastern-Europe.html and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5446658/European-banks-in-spotlight -as-Baltic-crisis-hits-Sweden.html ). Their neighbours (Lithuania and Estonia) are heavily entwined with them and also financially in ruins. In turn, Scandanavian banks - particularly Sweden, are heavily exposed and underwriting them in turn is Switzerland and Germany. A little bit further over is Ukraine - also on the verge of collapse and serious social upheavel. The only people who are willing to help Ukraine are the Russians - but only if they move out of the west's sphere of influence into theirs (similar deal on the table for the Baltic states. The re-birth of the USSR perhaps?) And then in our country we have neo-nazis winning electoral respectability and our two main poiltical parties mired in sleaze and financial scandal.
So over here in Europe, it's like a giant game of Jenga. Only we're playing it drunk, in blindfolds, with boxing gloves.
They belong to a 'Mickey Mouse' currency called the Euro (which, daft as we are and in the EU with them, we weren't daft enough to join a false currency).
lol In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
