Ahnmdinejad sworn in for second term as Iranian president amid walkouts , ,, http://www.guardian.co.uk/wor ld/2009/aug/05/mahnrud-ahn'iadinej ad-s...
guardlan.couk
Ahmadinejad sworn in for second term
amid walkouts and protests
• Arrests reported as protesters gather outside parliament
• UK ambassador hears president attack west in speech
1 of3 8/6/2009 9:19 AM
Abniadinejad sworninfor second termas Iranianpresident amid walkouts,.. lttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/05/mabnnid-ahniadinejad-s...
Lee Glendinning and Haroon Siddique
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 5 August 2009 11.15 BST
Mahmoud Ahmadinej ad's inauguration as Iranian president for a second term was
marked by opposition walkouts, demonstrations and criticism from his own
conservative camp today as pressure mounted on the disputed winner of Iran's election.
Senior officials and clerics allended the ceremony at Iran's parliament but it was
boycotted by many opposition leaders and moderate politicians. Those of the reform
faction who did allend walked out when Ahmadinejad started speaking, according to
the opposition website Parleman News. Hundreds of opposition supporters gathered
outside parliament and further protests were reported to be planned for 30 locations at
pm Iranian time (3.3opm GMT).
The opposition claims Ahmadinejad stole the vote in the 12 June presidential elections.
At least 30 demonstrators were killed in uprisings that followed.
Despite recent friction between Iran and Britain , the British ambassador, Simon Gass,
was there to hear Ahmadinejad renew his attacks on western countries, which Iranian
officials blame for stirring up unrest after the election. “Some governments should feel
responsible for the words and deeds, interferences, occupations ... they need to be
accountable for this,” the president said.
The Iranian people wanted “constructive dialogue” with the international community,
he said, but added: “We will resist violation of law and interference and abuse of
national mechanisms and discrimination ... We will not remain silent.”
Britain's Foreign Office defended the decision to send Gass to the ceremony. A
spokesman said it was important “to keep channels of communication open” to address
issues of concern, including Iran's nuclear programme and human rights. He said it was
“not business as usual” as the UK was not sending a leller of congratulations to
Ahmadinejad. Following informal EU co-ordination, Germany and France followed suit,
as did the US. In his speech after taking the oath of office, Ahmadinejad mocked the
snub, saying: “Well, no one in Iran is waiting for your messages.” Some in the audience
responded with cheers.
Before Ahmadinejad's speech, the conservative head of Iran's judiciary, Ayatollah
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, urged him “to not use force ... on minor issues”.
Ahmadinejad remained dismissive of the allegations of vote-rigging as he urged
Iranians to stand together. “Who has voted for whom is not the question . . .today we
need a national will. We need to join forces.”
Hundreds of police were deployed around the parliament and a subway station nearby
was closed to the public as opposition groups called protesters on to the streets.
2 of3 8/6/2009 9:19 AM
Abniadinejad sworninfor second termas Iranianpresident amid walkouts,.. lttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/05/mabnnid-ahniadinejad-s...
Opposition websites urged suppoiters of Ahmadinejad's main rival, Mir Hossein
Mousavi, to protest against the swearing-in. Reuters reported a witness seeing hundreds
of Mousavi suppoiters walking around the parliament building despite a heavy
presence of riot police and Basij militia. The witness said there were no clashes but at
least 10 people were arrested and mobile phones were cut off.
There were reports of teargas used against protesters. Other witnesses said security
troops dispersed hundreds of protesters chanting “Death to the dictator” in streets near
the parliament building.
The detained were said to include protesters who wore black T-shirts in a sign of grief
over Ahmadinej ad's inauguration. Others were a young man in green trousers — the
colour of Mousavi's movement — a middle-aged woman carrying a royalist banner in
support of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was toppled in the 1979 Islamic
revolution, and another woman chanting pro-Mousavi slogans. The official IRNA news
agency said there had been no “disturbance of the peace”.
Inside parliament, Ahmadinejad said: “I, as the president of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, swear before the holy Qur'an and the Iranian nation and God to be the guardian of
the official religion, the Islamic Republic and the constitution.” He pledged to protect
the constitution and frontiers of Iran.
He said his main focus would be on “progress and development”, and that he knew the
Iranian people were “commuted to the same principles”.
On Monday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Au Khamenei, ignored biller divisions at
home and deep dismay abroad to publicly endorse Ahmadinejad as a “brave,
hard-working and wise man”.
Ads by Google
US to Strike Soon
US to Go into War Any Day Now? Read This Story Here!
www.russiatoday.com
Barack Obama Trivia Test
Do you know Barack Obama? Take the Barack Obama Trivia Test!
Dumb-spot.net/Obama-Trivia-Test
President Ceo
Search only $ 100,000+ Jobs. We open the doors to opportunity.
www.TheLadders.com
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
3 of3 8/6/2009 9:19 AM
