13 juin 2009
Ahmadinejad slams foreign media, calls election win 'great'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday night accused the foreign media of coverage that harms the Iranian people after authorities claimed he was re-elected in a bitterly disputed vote. He called on the public to respect Friday's vote, after his main pro-reform challenger rejected the results and accused authorities of election fraud. "This is a great victory at a time when the ... propaganda facilities outside Iran and sometimes inside Iran were totally mobilized against our people," Ahmadinejad said, according to an English translation of his victory speech carried on state television. "The heaviest pressure and psychological warfare was organized against the people of Iran. A large number of foreign media ... organized a full-fledged fight against our people." The very margin of his victory - a two-thirds to one-third margin in Ahmadinejad's favor - left many questioning the authenticity of the "democratic" elections, since the run-up to Friday's vote suggested a tight race between Ahmadinejad and the leading reformist candidate, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi. Mousavi supporters clashed with police and set up barricades of burning tires as authorities declared that Ahmadinejad had been re-elected in a landslide. Opponents responded with the most serious unrest in the capital in a decade and charges that the result was the work of a "dictatorship." Late Saturday, there were unconfirmed reports that Mousavi had been arrested while cell phone service appeared to have been cut in Iran's capital. The clashes in central Teheran were the more serious disturbances in the capital since student-led protests in 1999 and showed the potential for the showdown over the vote to spill over into further violence and challenges to the Islamic establishment. Several hundred demonstrators - many wearing the trademark green colors of Mousavi's campaign - chanted "the government lied to the people" and gathered near the Interior Ministry as the final count was announced. It gave 62.6 percent of the vote to Ahmadinejad and 33.75 to Mousavi, who served as prime minister in the 1980s and has become the hero of a youth-driven movement seeking greater liberties and a gentler face for Iran abroad. The turnout was a record 85 percent of Iran's 46.2 million eligible voters. Two other candidates received only a fraction of the vote. Protesters set fire to tires outside the Interior Ministry and anti-riot police fought back with clubs and smashed cars. An Associated Press photographer saw a plainclothes security official beating a woman with his truncheon. In another main street of Teheran, some 300 young people blocked the avenue by forming a human chain and chanted "Ahmadi, shame on you. Leave the government alone." Mousavi's campaign headquarters urged people to show self-restraint. Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli, who supervised the elections and heads the nation's police forces, warned people not to join any "unauthorized gatherings." Earlier, the powerful Revolutionary Guard said it would not tolerate any challenges by Mousavi's "green" movement - the color adopted by Mousavi's campaign. "I'm warning that I won't surrender to this manipulation," said a statement on Mousavi's Web site. "The outcome of what we've seen from the performance of officials ... is nothing but shaking the pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran's sacred system and governance of lies and dictatorship." He warned "people won't respect those who take power through fraud." The headline on one of Mousavi's Web sites: "I wont give in to this dangerous manipulation." Mousavi and key aides could not be reached by phone. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, thanked the people for their record 85 percent participation and warned opposition candidates to "avoid provocative behavior." (23,07)
Riots break out in Teheran as Ahmadinejad wins elections
After weeks of excitement and fervor, it is all over. The numbers are in and incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has won a "landslide" victory in the Iranian presidential elections. But the very margin of his victory - a two-thirds to one-third margin in Ahmadinejad's favor - has left many questioning the authenticity of the "democratic" elections, since the run-up to Friday's vote suggested a tight race between Ahmadinejad and the leading reformist candidate, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi. Mousavi supporters clashed with police and set up barricades of burning tires as authorities declared that Ahmadinejad had been re-elected in a landslide. Opponents responded with the most serious unrest in the capital in a decade and charges that the result was the work of a "dictatorship." The clashes in central Teheran were the more serious disturbances in the capital since student-led protests in 1999 and showed the potential for the showdown over the vote to spill over into further violence and challenges to the Islamic establishment. Several hundred demonstrators - many wearing the trademark green colors of Mousavi's campaign - chanted "the government lied to the people" and gathered near the Interior Ministry as the final count was announced. It gave 62.6 percent of the vote to Ahmadinejad and 33.75 to Mousavi, who served as prime minister in the 1980s and has become the hero of a youth-driven movement seeking greater liberties and a gentler face for Iran abroad. (18,36)
Reuters/Moderate candidate speaks of "dangerous charade"
Moderate candidate Mirhossein Mousavi said he "strongly protested" against what he described as many violations in Iran's presidential election, in a statement made available to Reuters on Saturday. Mousavi lost Friday's vote by a landslide to hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to official figures. "I personally strongly protest the many obvious violations and I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade. The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardise the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny," he said in the statement. Iran's state election commission said Ahmadinejad won a second four-year term with about 63.4 percent of the votes against 34.7 percent for Mousavi with almost all votes counted. About 80 percent of the electorate voted, it said. Mousavi, who late on Friday said he had won the election, called the official result "shocking". "People who waited in long queues, they know the composition of the votes and they themselves know who they voted for," his statement said. "They are surprised and are watching the juggling of ... officials when they announced the result." Mousavi said he would disclose the "secrets behind this dangerous charade" and added: "I'm suggesting officials stop this trend before it is too late and return to the land of law and preserve people's rights." Mousavi urged senior clerics in Iran's Shi'ite religious centre of Qom to speak out. "Today all the ways to preserve our rights are closed. Silence of the ulema and grand ayatollahs may create more harm than fixing voting," he said in a statement on his website. " ... No one even imagined this much vote rigging and in front of the eyes of the world by a government which says it is committed to religious justice," Mousavi said. The authorities reject such allegations. Mousavi had been due to hold a news conference in Tehran on Saturday but police outside the building told journalists to stay away, saying it had been cancelled. (18,30)
AFP/Ahmadinejad remporte la présidentielle, Moussavi évoque "l'instauration de la tyrannie"
Le président sortant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a remporté haut la main l'élection présidentielle en Iran des le premier tour samedi d'apres les résultats officiels, dominant son principal rival Mir Hossein Moussavi qui a mis en garde contre "l'instauration de la tyrannie". Le guide supreme et numéro un du régime islamique, l'ayatollah Ali Khamenei, qui avait apporté indirectement son soutien a M. Ahmadinejad, 52 ans, a parlé de "vraie fete" apres la réélection du président ultraconservateur pour un nouveau mandat de quatre ans. En signe de protestation contre les résultats, des milliers de partisans de M. Moussavi sont descendus dans les rues du centre de Téhéran, affrontant meme les policiers dans certains quartiers, selon des témoins et des correspondants de l'AFP. La capitale n'avait pas connu de telles violences depuis les émeutes estudiantines de juillet 1999. Aucun incident n'a été signalé en revanche dans les autres grandes villes du pays. Selon le ministre de l'Intérieur Sadegh Mahsouli, M. Ahmadinejad a recueilli 24.527.516 voix (62,63%), sur un total de 39.165.191 suffrages exprimés, dont 409.389 ont été invalidés. L'ex-Premier ministre Moussavi, un conservateur modéré revenu sur le devant de la scene politique apres 20 ans d'absence, est arrivé deuxieme avec 13.216.411 voix (33,75%), a-t-il ajouté. Le conservateur Mohsen Rezai a recueilli 1,73% des voix et le réformateur Mehdi Karoubi 0,85%. Ce dernier a jugé les résultats "illégitimes" et "inacceptables". La participation a été de 85%, "un record", selon M. Mahsouli. Le ministere de l'Intérieur n'a fait état d'aucune irrégularité dans le scrutin. Mais M. Moussavi a parlé de "tour de magie" a propos des résultats et affirmé que l'attitude des responsables des opérations électorales n'avait d'autre résultat que de "fragiliser le régime islamique et d'instaurer le mensonge et la tyrannie". Il a dénoncé "vigoureusement les irrégularités visibles et nombreuses" et mis en garde contre leurs "conséquences destructrices sur le destin du pays". "Les gens ne sont pas dupes et ne plieront pas face a ceux qui arrivent au pouvoir en trichant", a dit M. Moussavi, qui avait revendiqué une large victoire apres la clôture du scrutin. Il a aussi lancé un appel au calme a ses partisans. Malgré l'interdiction par la police de tout rassemblement apres la fermeture des bureaux de vote, plusieurs milliers de partisans de M. Moussavi se sont réunis dans le centre de Téhéran, lançant des slogans hostiles au gouvernement, selon une journaliste de l'AFP. Criant "dictature, dictature" ou encore "démission du gouvernement de coup d'Etat", une partie des manifestants a bloqué l'avenue Vali-e Asr, l'une des plus grandes de la capitale. Des manifestants affrontaient la police dans d'autres endroits de Téhéran. "Moussavi, Moussavi, récupere nos votes", scandaient certains, pour la plupart des jeunes. La police a chargé les manifestants en faisant usage de matraques sans toutefois pouvoir les disperser. La campagne électorale s'était déroulée dans un climat acerbe entre candidats mais aussi dans une atmosphere festive, a un niveau jamais vu en 30 ans de République islamique. Elle avait aussi reflété des divisions profondes sur l'avenir de l'Iran apres quatre ans de mandat Ahmadinejad. A Washington, le président américain Barack Obama, qui souhaite un dialogue ferme mais direct avec Téhéran, avait estimé qu'un "changement" était "possible" dans les relations bilatérales, quel que soit le vainqueur du scrutin. Mais en Israël, ennemi juré de l'Iran, le vice-ministre des Affaires étrangeres Danny Ayalon a affirmé que "s'il y avait encore un espoir d'un changement en Iran, la réélection d'Ahmadinejad montre que la menace iranienne est d'autant plus grave". En revanche, l'allié régional de l'Iran, le président syrien Bachar al-Assad a félicité Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pour sa victoire. (18,28)
Israel: Iran election shows world must stop Ahmadinejad
The apparent re-election of hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscores the growing threat posed by Tehran and its nuclear ambitions, two senior Israeli politicians said Saturday, urging the world not to engage in dialogue with Iran. However, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and Vice Premier Silvan Shalom expressed their personal views and not those of the Israeli government, said government spokesman Mark Regev. He said it was not clear when the Israeli government would make a formal statement.
Vice Premier Silvan Shalom and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Saturday stressed the danger posed by the Iranian nuclear threat, following the initial reports that the Islamic republic had reelected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to serve as their president, a result that became official later Saturday afternoon. "The Iranian election results are a slap in the face of those who believed Iran was built for real dialogue with the free world and would halt its nuclear program," Shalom said. Ayalon said that while Israel had no illusions about the Iranian election results, because there were practically no differences between the leading candidates on terrorism and the nuclear program, the reelection of Ahmadinejad "reflects the intensification of the threat posed by the Islamic republic."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that Iran's nuclear a mbitions, not Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, should occupy the world's action. Friction has been growing between Israel and the U.S. over Netanyahu's refusal to endorse the idea of Palestinian statehood and a settlement freeze, as sought by the Obama administration. Netanyahu is to deliver a major policy speech Sunday to clarify his positions. An election victory by hardliners in Iran could strengthen his argument. A count in Iran pointed to a landslide victory by Ahmadinejad, blowing up in the face of those who thought that Iran is built for real dialogue with the free world, concerning its nuclear program. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said he did not think there would be any change in American policy toward Iran because the same person will be there, Carter said after a meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank town of Ramallah. "Hopefully, he'll moderate his position," he said about Ahmadinejad. (18,00)
Reuters: Challenger Mousavi denounces result as "dangerous charade"
Hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won Iran's election by a thumping margin, according to official results which his moderate challenger rejected on Saturday as a "dangerous charade" that could lead to tyranny. The level of the incumbent's support, nearly twice as many votes as former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi with most ballots counted from Friday's poll, confounded widespread expectations that the race would at least go to a second round. Mousavi protested against what he said were many obvious violations in Friday's presidential election. "I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade. The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardise the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny," he said in a statement made available to Reuters. Iranian and Western analysts abroad greeted the results with disbelief. They said Ahmadinejad's re-election would disappoint Western powers aiming to convince Iran to halt work they suspect is aimed at making bombs, and could further complicate efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama to reach out to Tehran. "It doesn't augur well for an early and peaceful settlement of the nuclear dispute," said Mark Fitzpatrick at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies. A bitterly fought campaign generated strong interest around the world and intense excitement inside Iran. It revealed deep divisions among establishment figures between those backing Ahmadinejad and those pushing for social and political change. Ahmadinejad accused his rivals of undermining the Islamic Republic by advocating detente with the West. Mousavi accused him of humiliating Iranians with an "extremist" foreign policy. Listing several complaints before official results were announced, Mousavi said late on Friday that many people had not been able to vote and that there was a lack of ballot papers. He also accused authorities of blocking text messaging, with which his campaign tried to reach young, urban voters. "I am the definite winner of this presidential election," Mousavi told a news conference. But the state election commission said Ahmadinejad had won a second four-year term with about 63.4 percent of votes against 34.7 percent for Mousavi with almost all ballots counted. It put the turnout at around 80 percent of 46 million eligible voters. Trita Parsi, president of the Washington-based National Iranian American Council, expressed disbelief at the wide margin in Ahmadinejad's favour. "It is difficult to feel comfortable that this occurred without any cheating," Parsi said. "The potential for unrest is high," said Ali Ansari, who heads the Institute for Iranian Studies at St Andrews University in Scotland. "People will wake up today in Iran in shock." STREET SCUFFLES Western capitals had hoped a victory for Mousavi could help ease tensions with the West, which is concerned about Tehran's nuclear plans, and improve chances of engagement with Obama, who has talked about a new start in ties with Tehran. Now they must again deal with Ahmadinejad, who has refused talks with six world powers over Iran's nuclear programme. The three-week election campaign was marked by mudslinging, with Ahmadinejad accusing his rivals of corruption. They said he was lying about the state of the economy. It was unclear how Mousavi's supporters, who thronged the streets of Tehran nightly during the campaign, might react to Ahmadinejad's victory. U.S. strategic intelligence group Stratfor called the situation "potentially explosive". Scuffles broke out overnight between police and chanting Mousavi supporters in a Tehran square, a Reuters witness said. Police said they had boosted security across the capital. All gatherings have been banned until final results are declared. Ahmadinejad draws his bedrock support from rural areas and poorer big city neighbourhoods. Mousavi enjoys strong backing in wealthier urban centres, especially among women and the young. Two other candidates attracted only tiny voter support. Turnout was heavy after a campaign marked by heated debate over inflation -- officially 15 percent -- and unemployment. Ahmadinejad, 52, won power four years ago, vowing to revive the values of the 1979 Islamic revolution. He has expanded the nuclear programme, rejecting Western charges that it is aimed at bomb-making, and stirred international outrage by denying the Holocaust and calling for Israel to be wiped from the map. Mousavi, 67, rejects Western demands that Iran halt uranium enrichment but analysts say he would have brought a different approach to Iran-U.S. ties and talks on the nuclear issue. Ultimately, however, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei controls nuclear and foreign policy. (14,34)
Mousavi, moderate challenger rejected the tally as a "dangerous charade" that could lead to tyranny
Mousavi protested against what he said were many obvious violations in the high-turnout presidential election."I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade. The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardize the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny," Mousavi said in a statement made available to Reuters. He had been due to hold a news conference, but police at the building turned journalists away, saying it was cancelled. Iranian and Western analysts abroad greeted the results with disbelief. They said Ahmadinejad's re-election would disappoint Western powers aiming to convince Iran to halt work they suspect is aimed at making bombs, and could further complicate efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama to reach out to Tehran. "It doesn't augur well for an early and peaceful settlement of the nuclear dispute," said Mark Fitzpatrick at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies. A bitterly fought campaign generated strong interest around the world and intense excitement inside Iran. It revealed deep divisions among establishment figures between those backing Ahmadinejad and those pushing for social and political change. Ahmadinejad accused his rivals of undermining the Islamic Republic by advocating detente with the West. Mousavi said the president's "extremist" foreign policy had humiliated Iranians. On Friday night, before official results emerged, Mousavi had claimed to be the "definite winner". He said many people had been unable to vote and ballot papers were lacking. He also accused authorities of blocking text messaging, with which his campaign tried to reach young, urban voters. (14,28)
Ahmadinejad nearing landslide victory
Hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was heading for a surprise landslide with nearly 80 percent of votes counted in Iran's stormy presidential elections, the Interior Ministry said Saturday. But Mir Hossein Mousavi, his pro-reform rival, countered that he was the clear victor and accused authorities of fraud. The dispute sharply boosted tensions, raising the possibility of a standoff after an intense monthlong race between the combative president and his main challenger, Mousavi, who is backed by a growing youth-oriented movement. A large turnout at the polls had boosted victory hopes for Mousavi supporters. At a press conference around midnight, Mousavi declared himself definitely the winner based on all indications from all over Iran. He accused the Islamic ruling establishment of manipulating the people's vote to keep Ahmadinejad in power and suggested the reformist camp would stand up to challenge the results. "It is our duty to defend people's votes. There is no turning back," Mousavi said, alleging widespread irregularities. Before dawn Saturday, Tehran's streets were deserted, but there were worries of protests by Mousavi supporters if he is declared the loser. Bringing any showdown into the streets would certainly face a swift backlash from security forces. The political chief of the powerful Revolutionary Guard cautioned Wednesday it would crush any revolution against the Islamic regime by Mousavi's green movement. State media declared Ahmadinejad, whose first term saw a sharp deterioration in Iran's relations with the West, the winner against pro-reform rival Mousavi. The official news agency IRNA said: "Dr. Ahmadinejad, by winning most votes...has secured his victory." It said final results would be announced at 8 a.m. (08,59).
Noam Shalit gives Jimmy Carter letter to son held by Hamas
Noam Shalit, father of abducted Israel Defense Force soldier Gilad Shalit, passed a letter to his son to former United States president during their meeting on Friday. Shalit met Carter, who arrived as part of a series of talks in the region, in Jerusalem's Colony Hotel and asked him to do what he could in order to make sure his son will receive the letter. After the meeting Shalit said that the former president was one of a few Americans with links to Hamas and was hopeful that those connections could be used to secure the release of his son. Shalit also said that the meeting went well and that Carter committed himself to helping Gilad's cause. He added that while the government was unable to provide him with goods news recently he was still hopeful that Haggai Hadas, recently appointed to head Shalit talks, would work vigorously toward the release of his son. (08,56)
Lebanon's Hariri wants unity government with Hezbollah
The pro-Western politician favored to become Lebanon's next prime minister is setting aside the explosive issue of disarming the Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah, saying Friday he hopes for unity with his political foes in the sharply divided country. The comments by Saad Hariri in an interview with The Associated Press reflect the tough choices facing his U.S.- and Saudi-backed coalition after its victory against Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies. His faction maintained its majority in parliament, handing a blow to Syria's and Iran's attempts to strengthen their influence in Lebanon. A Hezbollah victory could have been a serious obstacle to U.S. President Barack Obama's search for Mideast peace. But the heavily armed, staunchly anti-Israeli Hezbollah remains a potent force in Lebanon, and past attempts to rein in its power have nearly pushed the country into civil war. Hariri has signaled he is willing to form a national unity government including Hezbollah, but it will probably take weeks of negotiations to work out the balance of power. The 39-year-old Hariri, a billionaire businessman, struck a conciliatory tone Friday, telling AP he wants to focus on what unites rather than what divides Lebanon's factions. "Today, we came out with a majority and there is an extended hand to everyone," he said. I think what's best for the country we need to work on unifying all our efforts toward making sure that what we do all of us is for the benefit of the people of Lebanon. But governments led by Hariri ally Fouad Siniora the past four years have avoided tackling the weapons issue and even formally backed Hezbollah's role as resistance to Israel, fearing a confrontation with the powerful militant group. Hezbollah's forces, backed by some 30,000 rockets, were able to fend off Israel's military in a 2006 war and are considered more powerful than Lebanon's military. A move by Siniora to curb the group's military communications network in May 2008 led to street battles in which Hezbollah gunmen swept through Sunni pro-government neighborhoods of Beirut, raising fears the country could fall into a new civil war. Hariri was vaulted to the leadership of Lebanon's pro-Western factions after his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was assassinated in 2005. Hariri is favored to be the next prime minister, and told AP he is ready to take up the job, though he said it's only fair to discuss it with his political allies before a final decision is made. "I will not shy away from it this time," Hariri said. "I've gained the experience.... I will not shy away from it. So it means I'm ready." Hariri passed on the premiership after his coalition won a parliament majority in 2005 elections, and Siniora took the post. Siniora's was the first government after Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon amid the uproar over Hariri's assassination, ending 29 years of Damascus' domination of the country. But Siniora's government was largely paralyzed by a power struggle with the Hezbollah-led opposition. In a compromise after the 2008 clashes, Hezbollah was brought into the government, with enough power to veto major decisions. One possible dispute in forming the next government will be whether Hezbollah and its allies retain that power. Hariri's allies don't want to give the opposition that much say, while Hezbollah's main Christian ally insists on keeping veto power. The two sides, however, may be posturing amid what is likely to be heavy wrangling over political positions. Many in Lebanon are hoping for an end to government paralysis. Hariri, whose family made its fortune in construction and telecoms, said he will focus on easing restrictions on business, attracting investment, building infrastructure and the security forces. "I think what we need to concentrate on is what the people really need ... being able to get out of their homes safely, go to their jobs safely and get back also," he said. (08,54)