Seven killed in Anti-Ahmedinejad Protests

Mousavi petitions Iran's Guardian Council to annul the elections even as people defy a ban on rallies
Hardnews Bureau

The protests in Tehran took a violent turn when seven people were killed and several others injured. The government radio claimed that they had attacked an army post and tried to loot weapons. "Several thugs wanted to attack a military post and vandalise public property in the vicinity of Azadi Square," the Iranian state radio said, referring to the site of the rally. Protestors have denied the official version. Earlier one person was shot dead reportedly by the police during the massive rally in Tehran when tens of thousands marched on the streets saying no to the "rigged" polls.

Defeated Iranian presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi joined  the protest rally in Tehran after the country's interior ministry called it illegal. Pitched battles were reported from across Tehran amidst rising social tensions and widespread belief that the results were rigged. Students and youngsters, including women are out all over the streets across the capital, facing police barricades and baton charges, even as Tehran University, the original nerve centre of pro-democracy and progressive protests in the past has been reasonably quiet.

 Earlier, Supreme spiritual leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered a probe into the elections- after initially and steadfastly backing the election results. Meanwhile, the Guardian Council, Iran's top legislative body has described the disputed results as "provisional" after it received two official complaints from defeated presidential candidates, Mousavi and Mohsen Rezaie. They asked the council to annul the elections citing irregularities. The council will issue its ruling within 10 days.

A rally against the election was held in the capital in brazen defiance against the ban by the conservative government which is using every strong-arm tactic of repression to stop the protests against the poll results. Hundreds have taken to the streets in support of the rally. Mousavi had earlier called off the rally, but he addressed the people out on the streets.

Meanwhile in Europe and America, the political leadership has expressed guarded concern at the police clampdown on the protestors and the 'dubious' nature of the results as declared by the supporters of Mousavi. Western opinion is concerned on the reported ban and crackdown on information systems, including sms, internet networks and media outfits. Clearly, there is a wave of support emerging for the "defeated" candidate who promised more social and political freedom in Iran as against the die-hard and fundamentalist forces led by the current Islamic hardliner president who has been declared "elected".

EU foreign ministers expressed "serious concern" and called for an inquiry into the conduct of the election. In his first comments on the situation, US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply troubled" by the violence in Iran.  The president studiously avoided any comment on the allegations of vote fraud  and said, "I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability for folks to peacefully dissent, all those are universal values and need to be respected," he said.

Waves of Mousavi supporters took to the streets after the interior ministry declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a clear winner in the just concluded presidential elections in Iran. Protests broke out in Tehran and other cities after the election results were declared. Mousavi supporters clashed with the riot police and Ahmadinejad supporters on the belief that the election results had been rigged. However, Ahmadinejad and the interior ministry denied any of these allegations while supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei asked Iranians to support Ahmadinejad. He also termed the large voter turnout as a "divine intervention".