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.
