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TEHRAN — The streets of Iran’s capital erupted in the most intense protests in a decade on Saturday, with riot police officers using batons and tear gas against opposition demonstrators who claimed that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had stolen the presidential election.
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The Interior Ministry said Saturday afternoon that Mr. Ahmadinejad had won 62.6 percent of the vote, with Mir Hussein Moussavi, the top challenger, taking just under 34 percent. Turnout was a record 85 percent.
Mr. Moussavi, a former prime minister who had promised to reverse Mr. Ahmadinejad’s hard-line policies, declared himself the winner by a wide margin Friday night, charged widespread election irregularities and called on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, to intervene.
From that article:
"But Ayatollah Khamenei closed the door to any appeals for intervention in a statement issued on state television on Saturday afternoon, congratulating Mr. Ahmadinejad on his victory and pointedly urging the other candidates to support him."
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few days - whether this gathers storm or fizzles out.
Iran is one of the youngest countries on the planet, and to listen to John "Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran" McCain attack Obama for willing to sit and speak with this country was really sad to see, and the thought of a McCain Presidency was frightening.
Many Iranians, even though we created a hellish chaos on their border in Iraq, still like Americans. They dont want to be bombed by us anymore than we would like to be victim of another 9/11.
First the United States is held hostage to the necons, now the Iranians are held hostage to their nutcase theocratic government.
The people of Iran and America (those of us not insane) desire peace with each other. Unfortunately government gets in the way
With so many young adults in Iran, there is real opportunity for change. Maybe not a complete turnaround, but steps in the right direction. Hopefully they won't give up. The time is now.
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