Iranian Reformist Calls for Mass Rally Thursday
By VOA News
17 June 2009
Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is calling for a mass rally to protest disputed election results and violence against his supporters.
In a statement on his Web site, Mr. Mousavi called for a peaceful demonstration Thursday aimed at getting officials to annul the election results, which he described as a "shameful fraud."
He asked his supporters to also stage peaceful protests or gather in mosques Thursday to honor those killed in post-election violence.
His call came as Iran's Revolutionary Guards further cracked down on the media Wednesday, warning Iranian Web sites against publishing materials that create "tension." Reporters and photographers of foreign news organizations have already been barred from covering political events and demonstrations.
The disputed election, which handed a landslide victory to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has triggered Iran's most serious unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran's Press TV says post-election violence has left at least eight people dead.
Press TV also reported Wednesday that the nation's Intelligence Ministry has briefed parliament about post-election unrest.
Supporters of Mr. Mousavi say they plan to hold another rally Wednesday. The reformist movement has asked Iran's Interior Ministry for permission to hold the rally, but, to this point, Iranian authorities have banned such gatherings.
Groups supporting Mr. Ahmadinejad and Mr. Mousavi staged large demonstrations on Tuesday.
Iran's powerful Guardian Council said Tuesday it will recount some ballots from Friday's controversial vote after challengers to Mr. Ahmadinejad called his re-election a fraud.
Aides to two prominent reformist politicians, Saeed Hajjarian and Mohammed Ali Abtahi, say they were detained on Tuesday. Abtahi is an assistant to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Separate reports say 26 people have been arrested after a pro-Mousavi rally turned violent Monday.
In Washington Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama said he is very concerned about the dispute over Iran's presidential election and the suppression of peaceful dissent in Tehran.
Government officials say Mr. Ahmadinejad won re-election with 63 percent of the ballots last Friday, compared to 34 percent for Mr. Mousavi.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, Reuters and AP.
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