Iranian police clashed with supporters of Mir-Hossein Mousavi today when they attempted to hold a memorial service at Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra Cemetary, firing tear gas in an attempt to disperse a crowd which gathered despite official rejection for their memorial service permit.
Unlike previous clashes, however, the sheer number of mourners who showed up, perhaps tens of thousands, to commemorate the lives lost in the post-election protests, forced the security forces to give way and allow the rally to continue.
Protesters marched in procession chanting “death to the dictator” and “this government is dead,” while others chanted slogans in support of Mousavi, whose disputed loss in June’s presidential election sparked the violent protests which even a month later leave the nation divided.
The Iranian government has sought to calm criticism from the Reformist clergy and angry protesters by releasing large numbers of the people detained in the wake of the election and even announcing the closure of one of the prisons at which detainees were reportedly abused. Still, it seems the division in the nation is going to linger for the foreseeable future.
The Iranian government had a historical opportunity to show to the rest of the middle east and world that it was capable of governing democraticaly via an Islamic Republic, regardless of how marginal some parts of their democracy may have been at the time. Everyone knew that the real power rested with Khamenei and not Ahmadinejad. He should have allowed the "REAL" elections results stand as they had been voted by the public and should have allowed the true winner become the president. He could have continued to rule as he has for the past 20 years and the new president's powers would have been curtailed to a level that would have not threatened the status que. However by making the mistake that he did, he has no choice to either give in or to fight the very people that brought him to the power. tough pill to swallow, but it has be done……. only a fool makes that same mistake twice.
Most of the world media seem a little out of sync on reporting this story to-day. Particularly when it comes to the numbers of those participating, as well as the outcome.
The BBC and Canadian media are reporting a crowd of 300 9far less than the tens of thousands pictured here) broken up by police tear gas and resulting in the arrest of a dozen people.
So either Anti-War has the inside story on what's really happening, and no one else does. Or some of those millions spent by Bushco to develop 'positive' news from an 'axle of evil' are still paying dividends.
Most of the world media seem a little out of sync on reporting this story to-day. Particularly when it comes to the numbers of those participating, as well as the outcome.
The BBC and Canadian media are reporting a crowd of 300 (far less than the tens of thousands pictured here) broken up by police tear gas and resulting in the arrest of a dozen people.
So either Anti-War has the inside story on what's really happening, and no one else does. Or some of those millions spent by Bushco to develop 'positive' news from an 'axle of evil' are still paying dividends.