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Ahmadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran
Ahmadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran- Times... http://www. meson1im.co.u1c'to1/news/wor1d/n'iidd1e_east/artic1e684O... Gear Up Get yourticketsto Top Gear Live TIMES Run-ins are draining. There's a reason I don't leave the house Mel Leve COMMENT BUSINESS MONEY SPORT LIFE & STYLE TRAVEL DRIVING ARTS & ENTS ARCHIVE OUR PAPERS SUBSCRIPTIONS UK NEWS POLITICS SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT WEATHER TECH & WEB Where am I? Home Newe World Newe Middle East News From The Times September 19, 2009 Ahmadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran Martin Fletcher 11 COrvLIENTS RECOMMENE? (27) 4 IMAGE :1 012 Q The lslamio Republic has seldom seen such scenes. President Ahmadinejad had to cut short an interview on state-controlled television because chants of “Ahmadi! Ahmadil Resignl Resign!” could clearly be heard in the background. After two quiescent summer months, huge new protests erupted across Iran yesterday, wfth popular anger at the alleged theft of June's presidential election inflamed by the subsequent killing, torture, rape and show trials of opponents of the regime. Mir Hossein Mousavi, 68, the former Prime Minister and de facto opposition leader, had to abandon plans to join the huge anti-government demonstrations in Tehran when hardliners attacked him and his car. Ayatollah Khatami, 65, a popular former President who supports the opposition, was knocked to the ground, had his robe ripped and lost his cleric's turban — a black garment signifying that he is a sayyid, or descendant of the Prophet. RELATED LINKS Courage in Iran Behind the story: reporting on Iran protests Iran told: talk to us about nuclear weapons MULTIMEDIA Pictures: Al-Ouds Day protests injuries. In Tehran and other cities, tens of thousands of demonstrators hijacked Iran's annual al-Quds Day rallies in support of the Palestinian cause and turned them into protests against the oppression of Iranians. The security forces hit back with teargas and baton charges. There were violent confrontations between government and opposition supporters in the squares and avenues of central Tehran and numerous reports of arrests and In an address to the Friday prayers gathering in Tehran, Mr TIMES RECOMMENITS Call for more babies as china turns to grey Women gang up to hurt the mafia President Obama stumped by Israel IRAN HIT BY PROTESTS Tena of thousanda join first anti-government protests for two months Slide Show IN DEPTH Woi idAgenth Times experts explain the issues behind the headlines VIDEO PHOTO GALLERIES TOPICS MOBILE RSS I I Times Online __________ MY PROFILE SHOP JOBS I PROPERTY CLASSIFIEDS MOST READ MOST COMMENTED MOST CURIOUS TODAY The 50 Biggest Movies of 2009 Obama stumped by Israel as all world's... Public debt hits £800 billion - the... Roman Abramovich zaps snappers with laser... FOCUS ZONE Northern Tights: Win a luxury weekend to Nescastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here 00 Northern Lights Need to Know Business cityguides Overseas contacts and local business information Free CreditAdvice Credit crunched? Our Credit Clinic has advice Find an WA Find a local independent financial advisor Cmssword club Sign up today or try one of our free demo crosswords Free C%TReview Sell youraelfI Have your CV reviewed by experts FINANCIAL BROCHURES Business Travel Corsica Travel More reports Request your guide to investing in uncertain times Saving for your child Save for Retirement Online trading ISA Guides Wine Investing Investment Trusts Escorted by his bodyguards, the reformist former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, centre, is attacked by hard-liners as he attends Ouds Day rally in Tehran N V TIMES ARCHIVE: IRANIAN REVOLUTION 1 of4 9/19/2009 7:43 PM
Ahmadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran- Times.., http://www, meson1im.co.u1c'to1/news/wor1d/n'iidd1e_east/artic1e684O... come down on them.” A 69-year-old merchant said: “I came to show solidarity with the youth of my country. The regime is destroying Islam and Iran.” A young female student said: “The cheating, the raping, the killing and the torture drive you mad. I've come to express my hatred for Ahmadinejad and his protector, that so-catted Great Leader of the Revolution.” The Revolutionary Guards had warned that demonstrations would be crushed and the security forces responded with baton charges, teargas and pepper gas, but there were reports of protesters hurling stones and beating pro-government basiji militiamen. The security forces also cordoned off Tehran University, where Mr Ahmadinejad addressed thousands of government supporters bussed in for Friday prayers. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former President, had addressed Friday prayers on al-Quds Day for most of the past quarter century, but was barred yesterday because of his opposition sympathies. Mr Ahmadinejad used the occasion to deliver another verbal onslaught on Israel, saying that the Holocaust — the West's “pretext” for creating the Zionist state — was “a tie based on an unprovable and mythical claim”. He said that confronting Israel was a “national and religious duty” and warned Israel's supporters: “This regime's days are numbered. It is on its way to collapse. It is dying.” Mr Ahmadinejad was speaking just days before his scheduled address to the UN General Assembly and his words provoked outrage abroad. David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, called his comments abhorrent. The White House issued a condemnation. The World Jewish Congress urged UN member states to boycott his speech. Yesterday's protests show that the Iranian regime is still far from secure and that, with summer over, its problems will mount. The football season has begun, meaning large and volatile crowds will gather each weekend. At the same time students, who are traditionally in the vanguard of Iranian protest movements, are pouring back into the capital for the start of the new academic year next week. There are rumours that the regime may shut down some universities for a term. It is said to be purging “suspect” teachers and increasing the number of pro-government basiji volunteers in schools and colleges. In recent weeks the regime has cancelled other public events, including the commemoration of Imam Ali's death at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini. During August it is understood to have moved three big football matches out of Tehran or had them played behind closed doors. PRINT EMAiL iQ 5HARE .• YOUR COMMENTS 19 Comments (Displaying 1-10) Order By: Newest first I Oldest first Most recommended Fintla lawyer Cut your legal costs POPULAR SEARCHES ON TIMES ONLINE books chess I crosswords I fantasy footbatt I fashion formula I I horoscopes I Michael Jackson I need to know I obituaries I recipes I redundancy calculator I savings I science sudoku I swine flu I twitter I university guide I wine tatest travel deals Shortuts to help you find sections and artcles CLASSIFIEDS CARS JOBS PROPERTY TRAVEL CARS Car teasing New Audi AS- 2.0 TDI Sportback 36-month car lease on contract hire for £359.99 plus VAT pm Gocom pare .com Compare 100+ insurers with Gocompare.com Prestige car Finance The UK's leading altemative to showroom finance. Finance packages tailored to your needs. Minimum loan of £25,000 car Finance from csr Loan 4U No Deposit Required. Use Any UK Dealer. Apply Online Now at CarLoan4U Search for more cars and bikes Place your advert now Search Ad Reference: r Sbahfights exile lbr COIltrOlOfIflIfl The Ayatollah has inspired the mess protest movement against the Shah's rule Will the Shah be toppled from his shaky throne? The mind and heart of Ayatollah Khomeini 2 of 4 9/19/2009 7:43 PM
Abniadinejad faces test of strength as fresh protests sweep Iran- Times.., http://www.finesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east'article684O... Andrew Carpenter wrote: The worst thing about this horror story seems to be his desire to see his whole Country going up in smoke..This will surely happen if he continues to goad the USA and Israel. The sad thing is that many many rational, even minded folk will get caught up in it and die. The minute America says !!go ahead!! to Israel, it will firstly be the end of Iran; as a Country and a People.. ItlI also be an end to peace as we know it for the next twenty generations. ..End of days. September 19, 2009 11:13 PM BST RECOMMEND? (2) esra aksoy wrote: Obama did well to call off the shield plans. It is time for hypocritical Europeans to face the reality and Middle East problems rather than picking the dirt in thier backyards. September 19, 2009 9:40 PM BST RECOMMEND? marcus toomster wrote: Why is it that we hear nothing from that silent majority!! of moderate UK muslims on this brutal repression of democracy in Iran? September 19, 2009 8:27 PM BST RECOMMEND? (2) John Schiuter wrote: Wonder why Iran doesnt trust its people? Sad to have a government of thugs. September 19, 2009 6:42 PM BST RECOMMEND? (3) Mark Love Iran wrote: Obviously, mail is edited and/or deleted before exhibiting... September 19, 2009 6:27 PM BST RECOMMEND? Andy B wrote: Although lye never had the pleasure of visiting Iran, lye met many Iranians, and developed a fondness for the people and for the country. From what I know, Iran is ready to be free, and ready to be a democracy. Thats what the people want. My heart is with the people of Iran. I hope this deep culture and ancient civilisation can flower again, free from the crushing, deadening power of the mullahs. September 19, 2009 5:23 PM BST RECOMMEND? (6) Mike Johnson wrote: I wish all the good luck to the people of Iran, to crush tyranny. I hope they get the freedom they are fighting for. September 19, 2009 1:15 PM BST RECOMMEND? (12) Cohn Horsman wrote: When Mr Ahmadinejad affends a religious rally as part of the congregation, he appears, by his body language and facial expressions, to be immersed in an agonising spiritual experience while listening to the words of the Mullah. Does he then go back to his office in this same state of contorted mind, and then to make important decisions for the future and policies of Iran? Or does he return to some sense of, what most people would judge as balanced normality, when away from the religious setting. If his decisions are influenced by his own and others religious emotions, then that seems a most etraordinary way to try and run a country. If that is the case then it is unsurprising that the majority of sensible Iranians are rising up against him. September 19, 2009 11:51 AM BST RECOMMEND? (7) sara s wrote: Ahmadinejad is a danger for all people in the world. He is enemy of humanity. September 19, 2009 10:49 AM BST RECOMMEND? (20) Hus Darbari wrote: The very events that the regime have initiated to show peoples approval of them,are now turning to platforms for their opposition.History repeats itselfWhat inspired the mass against the Shah is inspiring the Iranian-youth of today. If ever the wealth of a nation was decimated by a corrupt regime,it is present day Iran. September 19, 2009 10:46 AM BST RECOMMEND? (16) 3 of 4 9/19/2009 7:43 PM