Gathering the news about Iran's 2009 National election in one place.

Middle East

Interview: Mother's tribute to Neda (BBC - Audio + Transcript)

Interview: Mother's tribute to Neda (Audio + Transcript): Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

The mother of Neda Agha Soltan, the 27-year-old Iranian protester whose death on 20 June was captured on mobile phone video, has spoken at length to the BBC World Service. The following is a transcript of the interview with Hajar Rostami Motlagh.

How did you first hear about your daughter's death?
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Arrests at new Iranian protests (BBC)

Arrests at new Iranian protests: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East .

Iranian riot police are reported to have arrested a number of pro-reform protesters in Tehran after demonstrations turned violent.

Police clashed with hundreds of people marching despite a ban on public gatherings since the disputed election in June, Reuters news agency said.

[...]

Power protest

Witnesses said hundreds or even thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran on Tuesday afternoon, although curbs on the international media mean it is difficult to verify reports from Iran independently.
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Iran police disperse protesters (BBC)

Iran police disperse protesters: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

Iranian police have dispersed hundreds of demonstrators who defied government warnings that any fresh attempt at protests would be "smashed".

The marchers were heading towards Tehran University to commemorate the 10th anniversary of student unrest.

All gatherings have been banned in a crackdown on mass protests that erupted after the disputed election of 12 June.

Meanwhile, another member of a rights group headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has been arrested.

Websites campaign

The demonstration was called to mark the anniversary of protests in 1999 between pro-reform activists and the loyalist Basij militia.

Small student-led groups have commemorated the event every year since then.
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Iran clerics defy election ruling (BBC)

Iran clerics defy election ruling: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

A group of clerics in Iran has called Iran's presidential vote invalid, contradicting official results.

The pro-reform group's statement pits it against the top legislative body, which last week formally endorsed the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

On Saturday, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that post-election events had caused bitterness.

Britain said one of two UK embassy employees detained for "inciting protests" would be released.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in the aftermath of the poll to protest at what they alleged was a fraudulent election.

The protests died down after the authorities deployed lethal force, killing at least 20 demonstrators. More than 1,000 were arrested.
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Iran 'to free UK embassy worker' (BBC)

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran 'to free UK embassy worker': Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

The eighth of nine British embassy employees detained by Iranian authorities is to be released later, the UK foreign secretary has said.

David Miliband said "all of our efforts are now directed" at securing the release of the man still being held - the embassy's chief political analyst.

But the lawyer for the Iranian says he has been charged with acting against national security and is facing trial.

Iran has accused Britain of fomenting discontent to undermine its regime.

On Sunday, Iran released a freelance journalist who was arrested last month.
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UK to press Iran on embassy staff (BBC)

UK to press Iran on embassy staff: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

UK officials will continue to lobby Iran for information about the chief political analyst from the British embassy in Tehran.

The Iranian man's lawyer has said his client is being held in prison accused of acting against national security.

But Foreign Secretary David Miliband has so far been unable to discuss the case with his Iranian counterpart.

Iran claims Britain is fomenting discontent to undermine Iran's Islamic regime - a charge the UK denies.
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Analysis: Iran crisis set to rage on (BBC)

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Analysis: Iran crisis set to rage on: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

Three weeks after Iran was shaken by its most serious unrest since the 1979 revolution, the dust seems to have settled.

Banned and broken up by force, the largely peaceful, massive protest demonstrations have fizzled out.

The Guardian Council - the powerful, appointed watchdog body - has formally endorsed the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose unexpectedly large declared margin of victory triggered the protests.

On the face of it, Tehran and other Iranian cities now look much as they did before the 12 June elections.

So does that mean everything is back to normal, and nothing has changed?

That seems unlikely.
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Iran to investigate defiant Mousavi (Al Jazeera English)

Al Jazeera English - Middle East - Iran to investigate defiant Mousavi: Via Al Jazeera English - Middle East.

Iran's Basij militia has asked prosecutors to investigate the role of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated opposition candidate, in protests that broke out after the presidential election he maintains was rigged.

The government militia that enforced much of the crackdown against protesters last week, accused Mousavi of several crimes including undermining national security, which could see him jailed for up to 10 years.

The semi-official Fars news agency said the Basij sent the country's chief prosecutor a letter accusing Mousavi of taking part in nine offences against the state, including "disturbing the nation's security".
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"Whether he wanted to or not, Mr Mousavi in many areas supervised or assisted in punishable acts," said the Basij letter, which also accused Mousavi of bringing "pessimism" into the public sphere.

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UK seeks Iran trial clarification (BBC)

UK seeks Iran trial clarification: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

British diplomats are trying to establish whether Iran intends to act on its threats to prosecute staff from the UK's embassy in Tehran.

On Friday, a top cleric said some staff members would be tried for inciting protests over Iran's disputed election.

Iran says the UK is trying to undermine the Islamic regime by fomenting discontent - a charge Britain denies.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband says he is "deeply concerned" and has asked for talks with his Iranian counterpart.

'Confessions'

Protests gripped Tehran and other Iranian cities after June's presidential election, amid claims the vote had been rigged in favour of the incumbent, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Read Original Article:(Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.)
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Iran views: Quiet but not normal (BBC)

Iran views: Quiet but not normal: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

Three Iranians in Tehran tell the BBC News website of their experiences of the post-election unrest and its aftermath.

[...]

I was arrested on 22 June. There were lots of militia on the street, waiting for the crowds. It was a silent protest, but they didn't let people gather.

When they saw I was carrying a camcorder, they arrested me, took me to a side street and started hitting me.

They didn't talk, they just beat with their batons. Then they put me in a van, with hands tied and blindfolded.
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