There are now nine dead, according to BBC Persia reports, and dozens injured. I am getting notes that police are raiding homes and apartments and not just arresting people but engaged in wanton destruction of property. Mousavi doubts a positive nod from the Guardian Council. Hundreds of thousands demonstrated against the election declaration.
These dispatches were written over the last several days. They do not include references to the most recent events and violence. There are others on the way that deal with what has been happening since the announcement by Iran’s Ministry of Interior that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won the presidency outright.
Iran’s now illegitimate President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad just made the bizarre statement in the last hour that ongoing street protests really show that Iran is a democracy. I guess he hasn’t been to the ones where people are being beaten by police with clubs.
First read the passionate, informed blogging insider accounts from Khatami adviser Mohammad Ali Abtahi. Here’s a taste: There was a lot of difference between yesterday and last night. Yesterday Iran was joyful because of changing the fate. Every body participated in. But last night was a shocking and bitter night.
(To get a feel for what is going on in the streets of Tehran, watch this linked BBC video clip.) Last night in London after appearing on Keith Olbermann’s show, I got an email from a well-connected Iranian who knows many of the power figures in the Tehran political order asking to meet me.
I’ll be offline for a while as flying back to Washington. Moussavi has just called for counting of ballots to halt because of massive voter fraud. Rumors are that Rafsanjani was “detained” when driving to meet Supreme Leader.
While eating a London-style breakfast this morning at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in Whitehall, I read two major articles featuring long interviews with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Just had this interesting conversation with Keith Olbermann on Countdown about the historic elections in Iran today. Historic because Ahmadenijad is getting election results that are just about impossible to believe.
I’m in London — but will be on Keith Olbermann’s Countdown (#4) around 8:20 pm EST. That’s right — 1:20 am London time. I’ll be speaking about the elections in Iran — which given what is being reported now as more than 47.
An exceptionally cool BBC reporter dug into the YouTube video clip I posted yesterday of Saudis seemingly dancing along to a Michael Jackson song. This reporter said, hmmm…the sound seems odd — and found the underlying video (posted above) which I think is even more interesting.
