Iran protests ‘to go ahead’
BBC
A key rally against Iran’s presidential elections will go ahead on Saturday – in defiance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei – opposition sources say.
The wife of defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, and an aide to another rival candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, said the rally would go ahead.
Mr Mousavi later announced he would be giving a statement imminently.
Police warned they will arrest the leaders of any protest rallies, which they said would be illegal.
The warning follows an order from Ayatollah Khamenei on Friday that street protests should cease.
On her page of the social networking website Facebook, Mr Mousavi’s wife Zahra Rahnavard said the rally would go ahead.
An aide to Mr Karroubi also told the BBC that a rally would take place and that it would be attended by Mr Mousavi and Mohammad Khatami – the former president, key reformist and ally of Mr Mousavi.
But the BBC’s Jon Leyne in Tehran says events are moving quickly, with the website of Mr Mousavi’s Kalameh newspaper saying he was due to make an imminent announcement.
Police warning
Iranian officials have warned protest leaders not to launch fresh demonstrations.
Abbas Mohtaj – head of Iran’s State Security Council and also deputy interior minister – issued a direct warning to Mr Mousavi.
“Should you provoke and call for these illegal rallies you will be responsible for the consequences,” he said in a statement.
State TV also broadcast a warning by a senior police commander warning that police would not countenance any more street protests.
The Egyptian government daily condemned the international community’s “cautious” response to the Iranian uprising.
Canada, France and Germany have condemned the Iranian regime and the fraudulent presidential election.
MEMRI
In its June 18, 2009 editorial, the Egyptian government daily Al-Ahram criticized the international community’s cautious stance on the unfolding events in Iran. According to the editorial, this caution gives the Iranian regime the impression that the international community will overlook the crackdown on opposition protests so as not to adversely affect talks on the nuclear issue.
Following is a translation of the editorial in full:
“Events in Iran have followed in close succession since the announcement that fundamentalist candidate Ahmadinejad was elected to a second term in the presidential elections. Between the mass demonstrations [of the reformists] decrying electoral fraud, and the counter-demonstrations accusing the reformists of allegiance to the West, the international community has stood confused about what position to take towards this democratic outpouring in a country that is on the threshold of acquiring nuclear capabilities, something all international and regional actors consider an unwelcome development.
“The caution that has characterized the position of the principle international actors towards the abuses occurring in the streets of Iran, up to and including the killing [of protesters], may be sending the wrong message to the ruling powers there. The upshot of this message is that the strong desire to reach a political resolution to the Iranian nuclear crisis and to avoid a clash with the Iranian authorities is a goal that supersedes all other considerations – even if these other considerations be support for international principles and human rights, and the urging of the [Iranian] government to stop the violence and bloodshed and to lend an ear to the views of the Iranian opposition. [This opposition] has expressed its rejection of the election results and its resistance to a second term for the current president, primarily for domestic reasons, and principle among them [Ahmadinejad’s] failed management of the economy.”
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Actually why would Obama care about their election, we know who he wants the elected one to be. Obama did not run an honest campaign with his ACORN and his other thugs, dead people voting and then the votes he stole from Hillary.
And as the Townhall says…….Your Silence is Deafening, Mr. President…The reason: He has so much invested in his let-us-sit-down-and-settle-our-differences diplomatic approach to Iran that it has all but turned into a “see no evil, hear no evil” policy toward that nation.
“Obama Seeks Way to Acknowledge Protesters Without Alienating Ayatollah.”
So obama is trying to have it both ways, not piss off the I A tolla’s but support the protestors. Barry ‘two-face’ obama.
The lack of leadership is stunning. The whole world has got to see, by now, we have no president, no leader just a wishy washy punk who lets others do his heavy lifting.
This will do more than encourage our enemies it will tell them ok here we are take your best shot. With obama there will be no retaliation.
Couldn’t agree with more,Mark.
For the first time in my life, I am truly afraid that This Great Nation, is headed down a road to a point from which it can not recover.
It is only a question of time before another 9/11 occurs. North Korea, keeps upping the stakes, and there is no response. Scary stuff.
Protest signs in english. Obviously they’re looking for some support. It would be a golden opportunity to make life tough for the regime. I don’t have a whole lot of hope that anything will change under the other president. Certainly wouldn’t be any worse.
BHO’s lack of interest goes along with what I’ve been saying for a while now. Foreign policy is on auto-pilot. He has no interest in it. It’s not part of his agenda. He’s only interested in the socialist movement and consolidating his power here at home. The soviets forgot to send out the memo to their American operatives when their empire collapsed. “It doesn’t work, stand down.”
The subtle, nuanced and ultimately spineless foreign policy toward Iran is shown for the failure it is. Again, we’re worried about offending bad guys who chant “Death to America!” already?
Another missed opportunity! Golly, Schzam!!! La Batalla de Girón April 17 – April 19, 1961, Golly Sgt. Carter wasn’t that a democrat POTUS in office then too?
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy “
I do,I do, I understand why I left the Democrat Party. It only took me from 1966 to 2008 to finally realize I’d backed the other loser party.
Yes indeed Mark, The lack of leadership is stunning. From both aisles of the Progressive Party.
Then again I have to temper my empathy for the Iranians, looking back to where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American embassy in support of the Iranian Revolution. It occurs to me that they already have the leader they wanted and the regime they founded. Dilligaf, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? You ain’t no Zulu Warrior, you be a black wussy.
Mark, exactly!!!! That is just what he
is trying to do.
“obama is trying to have it both ways”
SEAN, I agree, I never felt we could
not recover once the person was out of
office. But with Obama it is a whole
different feeling, I just can’t see
all the these being reversed. Especially
since most of the things have to do
with handouts, control of lives etc.
Jim, good point, yes many of the signs
are in English and also in some of the
other countries protesting as well. I
saw some signs with protesters in
France too and their signs were all in
English as well.
Anonymous, good point and we also must
remember that both of these guys that ran
are very similar.
That is why I am so glad to see the
protests finally turning their anger to
their stupid hate monger their mullah.
Jack, I agree completely, we must not forget
that ever. Well said !!!!!!
This is something I hope none of us get caught
up in the trauma or drama of all of this
and not keep in mind these people many of
them hate America, Jews and Israel too. The
men they voted for are very similar. So I am
watching and hoping soon they direct it all at
their Mullah and since there are some students
that are pro America that they grow in numbers
and that they one day can make real changes in
Iran. It is a wish anyway.