7 Killed as Supporters of Ahmadinejad & Mousavi Hold Separate Rallies in Tehran, Iran's Leader Favors Vote Re-Count

Supporters of Ahmadinejad & Mousavi Hold Separate Rallies in Tehran

2009-06-17 00:28:38

TEHRAN, June 16 (Xinhua) --

Supporters of both Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi held separate massive rallies in Tehran on Tuesday, state television reported.

Thousands of pro-Ahmadinejad Iranians gathered at the Vali Asr Square in downtown Tehran for a "unifying rally," while supporters of Mousavi also held a massive rally at the Vanak Square upper north in the city.

At the Vali Asr Square, most of the people were supporters of Ahmadinejad and they were also protesting against recent "riots" on Iran's streets, mostly in Tehran.

Many demonstrators were holding pictures of Ahmadinejad and Iran's national flags, a sign the incumbent president had been using during his campaigns for the presidential election.

The pro-Ahmadinejad ralliers were chanting slogans in support of the president while inviting supporters of Mousavi to national unity by chanting "We are of the same nation," state-run Press TV's reporter said.

Addressing the crowds at the Vali Asr Square, former Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel urged defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi to accept his failure in the presidential race.

Press TV's reporter said later at the Vanak Square that the gathering of Mousavi's supporters had also turned into a massive rally and the demonstrators, who were carrying green banners of the Mousavi campaign, were calm.

Earlier Tuesday, Mousavi's supporters were reportedly planning to hold a massive rally at the Vali Asr Square, but later Mousavi urged them not to go there, warning that people "should be careful not to be trapped in the preplanned confrontation."

All the parties and groups in support of Mousavi were trying to get permission to stage rallies in protest against "the election irregularities, the violence and the martyrdom of some of our countrymen," according to Mousavi's statement.

On Monday evening, at least seven people were killed at a mass rally held by tens of thousands of supporters of Mousavi, according to Press TV's report earlier Tuesday.

The protesters were killed after they tried to attack a military post near Tehran's Azadi (Liberty) Square, the report said, adding that dozens of others were also wounded when protesters were trying to destroy public properties.

Meanwhile, Press TV quoted Tehran's police as saying that security forces had arrested a number of "armed rioters" in connection with the recent clashes in Tehran.

On Saturday afternoon, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total ballots during Friday's vote, while his main rival Mousavi got 33.75 percent.

After the official declaration, Mousavi protested "strongly" the "obvious" violations in Iran's presidential election. He also appealed to the Guardian Council for a cancellation of the election result.

During a meeting with Mousavi on Sunday evening, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he had ordered the Guardian Council to investigate the claims of fraud in the recent presidential election.

He also told the former prime minister to pursue his appeal against the election result in a legal way.

Iran's Guardian Council, which is tasked with supervising the election, said on Tuesday that it was ready to recount disputed polling boxes, according to Press TV.

The council has agreed on a recount of disputed ballot boxes in last week's presidential election if it finds irregularities in the vote count, Press TV said.

"If it is necessary, exact recount will be done," the local IRNA quoted the Guidance Council spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei assaying on Tuesday in another report.

Recount may lead to changes in the candidates' tally, the council said.

Editor: Yan

Iran's leader favors vote re-count in presence of candidates representatives

2009-06-17 03:09:30

TEHRAN, June 16 (Xinhua) --

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that vote re-count in case of need must be carried out in the presence of representatives of the presidential candidates, Iran's state television reported.

"Any re-count must be done in the presence of representatives of the presidential candidates," Khamenei said, "so that everyone will be assured."

He said that all the Iranian people who took part in the presidential election have expressed their support for the Islamic regime, no matter which candidate they preferred.

Unrest are carried out by ill-wishers not supporters of candidates, he said, calling on candidates to show clear opposition to such actions.

Iran's Guardian Council said earlier on Tuesday that it is ready to re-count the disputed polling boxes in last week's presidential election if it finds irregularities in the vote count.

Editor: Yan

At least seven killed at pro-Mousavi rally: TV

2009-06-16 18:37:33

TEHRAN, June 16 (Xinhua) --

At least seven people have been killed at a mass rally held by tens of thousands of supporters of Iran's defeated reformist presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, local English-language Press TV reported on Tuesday.

The protesters were killed after they tried to attack a military post near Tehran's Azadi (Liberty) Square on Monday, the report said.

Dozens of others were also wounded when protesters were trying to destroy public properties, the report added.

Meanwhile, Press TV quoted Tehran's police as saying that security forces had arrested a number of "armed rioters" in connection with the recent clashes in Tehran.

Press TV reported on Monday that gunshots were heard at the rally near Tehran's Azadi Square had been declared "illegal" by the authorities and people were running away.

"There has been sporadic shooting out there," a reporter of Press TV said, "I can see people running here."

The backers of Mousavi were "staging a calm and peaceful demonstration," the Press TV reporter said earlier, adding that the anti-riot police were calm but alert standing on the sides of the street observing the surge of the people.

Iran's police chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam warned earlier on Monday that any illegal rally would be confronted in a legal way by the police.

Mousavi addressed his fervent supporters by a mobile loudspeaker saying that he was ready to take part in any new election.

On Saturday afternoon, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said that the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total ballots during Friday's vote, while Mousavi got 33.75 percent.

After the official declaration, Mousavi protested "strongly" in a statement the "obvious" violations in Iran's presidential election.

During a meeting with Mousavi on Sunday evening, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he has ordered the Guardian Council to investigate the claims of fraud in the recent presidential election.

He also told the former prime minister to pursue his appeal against the election result in a legal way.

"You are different from those people (rioter protestors on the streets) and you are advised to keep manners and calmness," Khamenei said.

Editor: Fang Yang

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