Mousavi Rally scheduled in Iran tomorrow in doubt

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | June 19, 2009 at 06:20 pm
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at Tehran University Iran Crowd Chants Death to America

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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at Tehran University Iran Crowd Chants Death to America

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June 17 protest in Tehran #iranlection | Photo 03

June 17 protest in Tehran #iranlection | Photo 03

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Tommorrow, Saturday, another mass protest was planned over the disputed election in Iran.  Protests have been held daily since the results of the election were announced.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held a speech earlier today stating that the election results were valid and that President Ahmedinejad had won the election over Mousavi by 2-1.  In his speech he warned against further protests against the regime.  This could result in violence in which a lot of blood could flow tomorrow.

Backers of Mousavi are set to decide on Saturday whether to defy the stern warning given by Khameninei.

Mr. Mousavi has been invited to an extraordinary session of Iran's top legislative body.  Two other candidates that lost against Ahmedinejad have also been invited.  Mr. Mousavi wants this election anulled.

President Obama, today spoke out against the violence against the protesters. 

Update:  3:00 AM PDST CNN is monitoring this situation.  It appears that the protesters are going to demonstrate.  They have a reporter there.  It remains to be seen how the regime reacts.

Sudari Sadequi was interviewed life by CNN at 0314 AM PDST.  She is a an Ahmedinejad supporter.  She claims Mousavi called the rally off.  It should be noted that she was on a cell phone and may be spreading misinformation.  

Apparently Mousavi and the other two opposition candidates did not show up for the meeting with the Supreme Council this morning.

According to State Media all protests have been canceled.

One of the squares where protests were to take place is empty.  This has been confirmed by CNN.  The square is surrounded by 200 heavily armed Riot Police.

CNN has an unconfirmed facebook page of Mousavi and it says do not pay attention to cancellations. The protests are still on.

The state has implemented a complete news black out.


        There was no immediate word from Mousavi's supporters whether they would still go ahead with a planned demonstration in downtown Tehran at around 4 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday.

An ally of Mousavi said he was not calling on people to take to the streets again. "Mousavi has no plans to hold a rally tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," he told Reuters.

But his supporters may decide to show up anyway, as they did in their tens of thousands last Tuesday despite a call by Mousavi for them to stay home.

If they proceed in defiance of Khamenei's explicit warning, they risk a severe response from security forces, which have so far not tried to prevent Iran's most widespread street rallies since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

                                                                                                                                            

TEHRAN -- Backers of beaten presidential candidate Mirhossein Mr. Mousavi will decide on Saturday whether to defy a stern warning by Iran's top authority and stage mass protests over a disputed election.

Iran's top legislative body holds an extraordinary session on Saturday morning to which it has invited Mr. Mousavi and the two other candidates who lost against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election, which Mr. Mousavi wants annulled.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded an end to the rallies on Friday, issuing a strong warning to leaders of the street protests that they will be responsible for any bloodshed.

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Uwe Paschen

Well, Friday was a day off and all could talk and think, Saturday being the first day of the week, this will be a very important story to follow.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

I will be following it as much as I can.  There should be some news coming shortly.



2
Amy Judd

Hmmm, I'm working tomorrow, I'll have to check what happens, I had no idea it was in jeopardy.

1
CynicalPatriot

Hello Amyjudd:

Apparently the leader of the most powerful governmental body, the Mullahs, broadcast that if there protests to today, something to the effect that there would be bloodshed and it would be the protesters own fault.

I hope the protesters do not blink. 

Regardless of the protesters feelings about America, if there own leaders are not listening to the people, the people need to hold their rulers accountable.

We live in fascinating times.

Respectfully,

Don Mashak

The Cynical Patriot

This story was created over 3 months ago, the comment thread is now closed.

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