Mousavi, Ahmadinejads Rival Arrested Amid Iran Rioting
Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was reportedly arrested Saturday following the reformist’s defeat at the polls by hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Supporters of Mousavi, the main challenger to Ahmadinejad, have responded to the election with the most serious unrest in Tehran in a decade and claim that the result was the work of a dictatorship.
There have been a number of contradictory reports from Iran, in large part due to the heavy restrictions imposed on the media in the Islamic Republic and in particular on foreign reporters.
Mousavi’s arrest was reported by an unofficial source, who said that the presidential contender had been arrested en route to the home of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pro-reform Mousavi has denounced the election as rigged and vowed he will not accept defeat. He and key aides could not be reached by phone Saturday.
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 from Friday’s presidential election was announced.
As night fell Saturday, the rioting and fires continued on the streets of Tehran. The city’s cell phone network appeared to be down Saturday night. When users tried to call cell phones, a message appeared saying error in connection. There were also reports of difficulties accessing social networking sites – used by Mousavi to rally supporters.
Ahmadinejad Wins Election, Rival Warns of Fraud
Iran’s interior ministry said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took 61 percent of all votes were tallied, but his pro-reform rival countered that he was the clear victor and warned of possible fraud in the election.
The dispute rose up even before polls closed early Saturday, heightening tensions across the capital where emotions have been running at a fever pitch. Mir Hossein Mousavi, the reformist candidate, suggested he might challenge the results.
The messy and tense outcome capped a long day of voting — extended for six hours to accommodate a huge turnout. It raised worries that Iran’s Islamic establishment could use its vast powers to pressure backers of Mousavi.
Hat tip Covertress
