From: Berhan Sium (eretrawi@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Jun 16 2009 - 20:50:51 EDT
Selam Dehai,
Unlike the shrill, hysterical and unprofessional coverage of Iranian presidential election and post-election by America's propaganda media -- CNN, MSNBC, NPR, NY Times, ect. I am even ashamed to say that DemocracyNow has joined the anti-Iran propaganda campaign. Amy Goodman should change the name of her broadcast to PropagandaNow -- I understand now why Alex Cockburn, the muckraking journalist and editor of CounterPunch, holds Goodman in such contempt. Watching CNN's broadcast on Iran, for example, is so overtly propagandistic and embarrassing that one wonders how these people can call themselves journalists and incessantly regurgitate the script on their tele-prompters with straight face. So much for the "free media" of the so-called "democratic West". Under such relentless psychological warfare, would it be any wonder if the Iranians should now cut off Internet and global satellite broadcast from the West, expl all Western journalists, and restrict
the movement of members of Western diplomatic corps for the next two weeks until things calm down. Otherwise they may have another "Operation Ajax" on their hands.
Iran's media, on the other hand, have proven themselves mature and have been covering the presidential elections in a fair, balanced and objective manner. Here below is Iran's international English language broadcast PRESS-TV's coverage of the elections taken from the past three days:
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China, Russia congratulate Ahmadinejad
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:07:41 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/98261.htm?sectionid=351020101
China and Russia have congratulated Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his re-election as he attends a regional summit in Russia.
"The heads of SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] member states congratulated Ahmadinejad on his re-election," Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova said.
Ahmadinejad and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao also met and 'exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern', Xinhua reported.
Ahmadinejad's meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was very brief as he delayed his trip to Russia for one day after protests in Tehran erupted over the hotly contested election in which Ahmadinejad was declared victor by a landslide.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister said the election was an 'internal affair of Iran' and added, "We welcome the fact that elections took place, we welcome the ... president on Russian soil and see it as symbolic that he made his first visit to Russia. This allows hope for progress in bilateral relations."
In an address to the summit, Ahmadinejad said the new world order should be less centered on the US policies.
"Washington's many political and economic woes show that its judgment can no longer be trusted," he said.
Iran has observer status in SCO, which groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
AKM/DT
Related Stories:
* SCO discussions continue after Iran joins summit
* At SCO summit, Russia welcomes Ahmadinejad
* US concerned with post-election situation in Iran
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Tehran ralliers slam efforts to spark chaos
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:06:56 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98284§ionid=351020101
A unity rally held by supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran ends with a statement, condemning recent "enemy efforts to create chaos".
"The unifying message of the Leader of the Islamic Republic put an end to issues that came up over the elections," read a statement that the organizers of the event issued on behalf of the participants of Tuesday's rally.
"On the matters that were brought up by candidates over the election results we believe that the best and safest approach is exercising self constraint and following up the issue through the Guardian Council," it added.
The call for defeated candidates to submit any objections that they might have to the 12 member election supervisory body was made in the first of the statement's six articles.
The rest focused on other issues such as urging the country's police forces and security personnel to take "decisive action" against enemy-guided "efforts to break the law, fuel chaos, and spark hooliganism."
The demonstrators also called on Iranian security forces and judicial authorities "to identify, arrest, and punish the main perpetrators of the recent plots, within moral and legal frameworks".
They also said that "the people of Tehran… would not desert the scene for criminals to repeat their unruly activities and would give them a strong and harsh response if need be."
The statement also condemned "enemies, particularly the US, Britain, and Israel" for "interfering in Iran's internal affairs, plotting against the government and giving media support to enemy groups, rioters and social and political hooligans who are trying to fuel chaos in the Islamic Republic."
It also called on the supporters of defeated rival candidates to distance themselves from "anti-Revolution forces, enemies and those who disrupt public order."
Finally, the demonstrators called on all Iranians to unite under one banner to build Iran "now that the nation's huge turnout in June 12 election and the President's re-election have set the scene for the country's progress."
MJ/SC/DT
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Tehran summons Czech, British envoys
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:07:54 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98277§ionid=351020101
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Czech charge d'affaires and the British ambassador to Tehran over "interferences" in the country's internal affairs.
The Czech charge d'affaires Josef Havlas has been summoned as the representative of the European Union over the bloc's "offensive and interventionist" remarks about the June 12 presidential election in Iran, said a Foreign Ministry statement on Tuesday.
The Czech Republic holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of June. On Tuesday the 27-nation bloc expressed concern over the post-election unrest in Iran, and called "on the Iranian authorities to respect the right to demonstrate in a peaceful manner."
"Neither the [European] bloc nor any other country is in a position to meddle in the internal affairs of Iran, especially the grand and historic elections, through interventionist and offensive comments," it said.
the Foreign Ministry's director for Northern and Eastern Europe affairs rejected the remarks in view of the EU's silence over the tragic terror attack
on Imam Ali mosque in the Iranian city of Zahedan, which killed 25 people and injured 125 others.
He went on to say that the protests were a sign of the public's "freedom to express their opinions on one of the most important political changes in their country."
According to Iranian state radio, seven people were killed and dozens of others injured in an attack on a military post in the Iranian capital Tehran.
The incident took place near the site of a rally staged by supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi in Tehran's Azadi Square. There is no established link between the peaceful protest march and the attack.
In another statement, the Foreign Ministry said the British ambassador to Tehran, Simon Lawrence Gass, was summoned "for the second time this week" following "insulting and interfering" comments made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband as well as the "provocative" dissemination of "fabricated news" by the British media.
The British ambassador was first summoned on Sunday for what Iran called the British media's "provocative and unreal" coverage of Tehran protests.
The Foreign Ministry asked the two diplomats to immediately convey Tehran's official protests to their capitals in the future.
ZHD/SC/DT/HGL
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Leader: Vandals not related to candidates
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:29:03 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98279§ionid=351020101
Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution says vandalizing public property is not related to presidential candidates or their supporters.
"Some people are against the unity of the Iranian nation and the solidarity of the Islamic system," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with representatives from the four candidates in Iran's presidential election and officials from the Guardian Council and the Interior Ministry.
"Such acts and vandalism and some crimes that were committed are not related to the candidates' supporters but to disturbers of peace and all should stand against them," the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei said all candidates are backing the principles of the Islamic Republic and support peace in the country and the election should not cause divisions.
The Leader called on all political figures to take a clear position against the post-election violence and urged the Iranian nation to withstand those committing crimes in the streets.
"If the election result had been other than this, such incidents would have occurred nonetheless," he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei said a recount of the vote could be held, should the investigations show such a measure is required.
The Leader said any recount must be done in the presence of representatives of the presidential candidates so that everybody is assured.
"Those in charge of supervising the elections are always trustworthy people, but this should not prevent an investigation into possible problems and clarifying the truth," Ayatollah Khamenei concluded.
AKM/DT
Related Stories:
* Majlis security commission probes unrest
* Iran police arrest armed rioters
* Iran says ready for partial vote recount
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2 more Reformist figures arrested over unrest
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:04:01 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98257§ionid=351020101
Iran's security forces have arrested two more Reformist politicians amid deadly street riots over the results of the country's hotly-contested presidential vote.
Two other leading reformist politicians, Behzad Nabavi and Saeed Hajjarian have been detained Tuesday, following the earlier arrest of veteran Reformist politician Mohammad Ali Abtahi, advisor to defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi.
Mohammad Ali Abtahi served as vice president in Mohammad Khatami's government.
All the three have been accused of orchestrating the post-election violence in Iran.
Former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Karroubi have questioned the outcome of the historic June 12 vote, and landslide victory of Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by a notable margin.
ZHD/DT
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Several people killed near pro-Moussavi rally
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:17:37 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98227§ionid=351020101
At least seven people have been killed and dozens of others injured in an attack on a military post in the Iranian capital Tehran, state radio has reported.
The incident took place near the site of a rally staged by the supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tehran's Azadi Square.
Despite a ban by Interior Ministry, hundreds of thousands of Moussavi supporters staged a civil rally to express their solidarity with the former premier, who suffered a crushing defeat in Friday's presidential election.
After the demonstrations were over, the attackers were reportedly trying to loot weapons and vandalize public properties when they were shot by unidentified gunmen, state radio said.
"Seven people were killed and 29 injured during the illegal rally on Monday," Tehran Governor General Morteza Tamaddon said on Tuesday.
Tehran's police chief said security forces have arrested a number of armed rioters in connection with recent clashes in Tehran. Ahmad Reza Radan said some explosives and guns have been seized from them.
At the Monday rally, Moussavi told the crowd he was ready to take part in a new election.
The former premier has called on the Guardian Council, the body supervising the electoral process, to nullify the Friday election in which the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared victor by a landslide.
SF/MD/AKM/DT
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Larijani probes into Tehran Uni. dormitory clashes
Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:38:09 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98185§ionid=351020101
Iran's Parliament speaker has assigned a committee to look into what he calls "unfortunate incidents" that took place at the Tehran University dormitory in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election.
Ali Larijani, the Majlis speaker, asked a team of parliamentarians to investigate the issue.
"I hereby assign Hojjatoleslam Aboutorabi, Dr. Elyas Naderan, Dr. Hamid-Reza Katouzian, Dr. Ali Abbaspour-Tehrani, Dr. Kazem Jalali and Dr. Alireza Zakani to probe into the matter and prepare an inclusive and unbiased report about the above-mentioned reports as soon as possible," Larijani said in a letter. "It is the duty of everyone to maintain calm and avoid tension."
The development came after Iran's 10th presidential election provoked protests around the country. In Tehran, pro-Moussavi supporters, who reject the election as fraudulent, have clashed with anti-riot police.
The clashes, reportedly, spread to the Tehran University dormitory.
"Following the unprecedented participation of the Iranian nation in the June 12 elections and while the people are rejoicing for this victory, there have been news of unfortunate incidents taking place in parts of the city such as the Tehran University dormitory and it appears that hidden hands are at work to feed foreign media outlets with propaganda," Larijani said.
"Majlis has also received reports of clashes with the people," he added.
The lawmakers assigned by Larijani visited the dormitory to speak in person with the students and hear their accounts of the previous night's clashes.
The lawmakers immediately informed Larijani and other officials including the police of the events and demanded the release of the detained students and the arrest and punishment of the perpetrators of the acts of violence.
They also requested that students be compensated for their loss.
TE/HGH/MD
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Guardian Council to review vote result
Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:18:22 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98180§ionid=351020101
The Guardian Council, the body tasked with supervising the electoral process, says it will announce its verdict on the results of Iran's presidential elections within 10 days.
Council spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodayi said the body had received two official complaints from defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Moussavi and Mohsen Rezaie.
The two candidates have questioned the legitimacy of the June 12 poll.
Kadkhodayi said the Council would review the appeals and announce its final verdict within 10 days.
In order for the outcome of the election to stand, the Guardian Council must approve the results.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has urged Moussavi to legally pursue his appeal against Friday's vote result.
The Leader said he had called on the Guardian Council to carefully review the appeal of the former prime minister.
JM/HGH
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1 dead, several injured in Tehran: Reports
Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:18:17 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98208§ionid=351020101
Reports indicate that one person has been killed and several others have been injured in shootings that broke out following a pro-Mousavi rally in Tehran.
Supporters of former premier Mir-Hossein Moussavi, who according to interior ministry figures suffered a crushing defeat in Friday's presidential election, gathered in central Tehran on Monday to voice their protest against what they called 'vote-rigging'.
Press TV's correspondent, who was at the scene of the mass rally, said that as protesters were beginning to disperse at sundown unidentified gunmen fired shots into the crowd, disrupting what was a peaceful rally up until the moment.
Following the rally some media reports claimed that one person was killed and a number of others sustained injuries. Press TV could not independently confirm the reports.
The pro-Moussavi supporters were disappointed with the official election results that Iran's interior ministry released in the early hours of Saturday.
According to the official figures, incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has won the vote with 63 percent of the ballots cast in his favor. Iran's last prime minister has only managed to win about 33 percent of the vote, the official figures showed.
The Monday rally, which went ahead despite an Interior Ministry decision to deny the Moussavi camp a legal permit for the demonstration, was the largest among a series of sporadic protests since Saturday.
Moussavi, who has not admitted defeat, was present at the rally, urging his supporters to remain calm. Fellow defeated candidate Mehdi Karroubi, who has also questioned the outcome of the vote, also attended the demonstration.
Reformist figure and former president, Mohammad Khatami was also present at the rally.
Moussavi has filed a complaint with the election supervising body, the Guardian Council, calling for the results to be annulled. By law the Guardian Council is required to address the complaints within a week to ten days.
MJ/MMN
Related Stories:
* Detailed list of votes cast abroad in Iran election
* Civil Pro-Moussavi rally turns ugly, shots fired
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In Iran, Leader approves election result
Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:50:06 GMT
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98115
Hailing the massive turnout in Friday's presidential election in Iran, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has once again approved its result.
"The 10th presidential election was an epic and ominous event," Ayatollah Khamenei said on Sunday.
"The Islamic nation of Iran proved that it attaches significance to national dignity and considers resistance against tyranny powers and extremists with the aim of restoring its rights as its major values and honor."
"The wise and vigilant Iranian people showed they are still committed to the path of the architect of the Islamic Revolution the late Imam Khomeini," the Leader added.
Ayatollah Khamenei said efforts and psychological warfare aimed at discouraging people from voting failed and instead the world witnessed an "unprecedented" turnout in the crucial election.
Friday's election witnessed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad win 24.5 million of the votes -- 62.63 percent.
Mir-Hossein Moussavi came second with 13.2 million votes, followed by Mohsen Rezaei with 678,240 votes and Mehdi Karroubi with 333,635 votes.
SF/SC/MD
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