AP Television is adhering to Iranian law that stipulates all media are banned from providing BBC Persian or VOA Persian any coverage from Iran, and under this law if any media violate this ban the Iranian authorities can immediately shut down that organisation in Tehran.
16 June 2009, 14.30A commuter bus travelling from Baghdad to a southern city caught fire Tuesday morning, killing 14 passengers on board, Iraqi officials said.
The blaze broke out near the city of Kut, 100 miles (160 kilometres) southeast of the capital.Police said the fire broke out in the engine at the rear, then wind caused the flames to spread throughout the rest of the bus.
The head of the regional health department, confirmed the death toll and said 30 other people were injured.Police officials said the driver survived and was being questioned.Though road accidents are not uncommon in Iraq, where the roads are poorly maintained, the bus fire accounted for the largest loss of life in recent days in a country where insurgent attacks are primarily responsible for large body counts.16 June 2009, 14.30
SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) General Esmaeil Ahmadi Moqaddam, Iran's National Chief of Police:
"Iran's police announce that everyone who wants to hold a rally, gathering or ceremony, should get the necessary permission, otherwise the police will take legal action. Anyway the police are determined to enforce the laws and will strongly quell (any unrest)."
SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, Iran's Intelligence Minster:
"More than 25 to 26 of the provocative agents behind the recent unrest have been arrested besides those arrested by the police, and I am telling the rest of them through this (interview) that their actions are not secret from the Intelligence Minister. If from now on they take to streets during the night and cause problems for people and the country they will not only be arrested but their identities will be made public."
Iran's Intelligence Minister and Chief of Police warned on Tuesday that they would take action against any demonstrators who held rallies without permission or were responsible for any unrest.
In an interview with Iranian television, the Iranian chief of national police, General Esmaeil Ahmadi Moqaddam, said all those wishing to hold a gathering or a demonstration should seek permission or face "legal action."
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities are restricting all journalists working for foreign media from firsthand reporting on the streets.
The rules cover all journalists, including Iranians working for foreign media.
It blocks images and eyewitness descriptions of the protests and violence that have followed last week's disputed elections.
The order issued on Tuesday limits journalists for foreign media to work only from their offices, conducting telephone interviews and monitoring official sources such as state television and it came as foreign reporters in Iran to cover the elections began leaving the country. Iranian officials said they would not extend their visas.
Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei said that more than 25 "provocative agents" involved in recent demonstrations had been detained, in addition to those arrested by police.
He warned those planning further demonstrations that their actions "are not secret" and they would be arrested if they were involved in further protests or unrest.
Rallies in support of both rival Iranian presidential candidates were scheduled to be held in Tehran's Vali Asr Square on Tuesday, where government workers were trying to prepare the venue.
The protest camp, which has been on the streets since Friday's election, has shown no signs of easing its demonstrations with backers of pro-reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi reportedly planning to gather in the square where supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have also called a rally to demand punishment of recent "rioters" in the country.
Iran's state radio reported on Tuesday that seven people were killed during clashes in Tehran the previous day - the first official confirmation of the deaths.
Many banks, bus stops and public buildings were also damaged and destroyed in the wave of protests and street battles.In a message posted on his Web site, Mousavi said he would not attend the rally on Tuesday and asked his supporters "not fall in the trap of street riots" and "exercise self-restraint."
Iran's Islamic leadership announced earlier on Tuesday that it is prepared to conduct a limited recount of the disputed election.
The offer by the Guardian Council for a targeted recount from specific voting sites where fraud has been alleged, is the first direct action by authorities to address claims of irregularities by opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.13 June 2009, 05.30
SOUNDBITE: (Farsi) No name given, local resident:
"I thought at least 80-90 percent of Tehrani voters were in favour of Mousavi, but now that it has turned out like this I am really shocked, I am waiting to see how it ends. I can't really believe it."
SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Behrooz Sharifi, local resident:
"I was really surprised to hear this on TV and radio in the morning. In the past two months people of most cities we travelled in were in favour of Mousavi."
Tehran residents reacted to the news on Saturday that incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is far ahead in the polls with nearly 80 percent of all votes counted in the country's presidential elections.
Kamran Daneshjoo, a senior official with the Interior Ministry which oversees the voting, said that with 78 percent of all votes counted Ahmadinejad had 64.9 percent, whilst his pro-reform rival Mir Hossein Mousavi had 32.6 percent.
Earlier, Ahmadinejad reportedly topped with 66.1 percent, but his share has declined as more votes have been counted.
Meanwhile, Mousavi has countered that he was the clear victor and accused authorities of fraud.
The dispute sharply boosted tensions, raising the possibility of a standoff after an intense month long race between the combative president and his main challenger, who is backed by a growing youth-oriented movement.
A large turnout at the polls had boosted victory hopes for Mousavi supporters.
The ministry says about 75 percent of the 46.2 (m) million eligible electors cast their votes.
Even before the first vote counts were released, Mousavi held a news conference to declare himself "the definite winner" according to information received by his campaign offices around the country.
Mousavi appealed to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to intervene and stop what he said were violations of the law.
Khamenei holds ultimate political authority in Iran.
Mousavi said some polling stations were closed early with people still waiting to vote, that voters were prevented from casting ballots and that his observers were expelled from some counting sites.
Iran does not allow international election monitors. During the 2005 election, when Ahmadinejad won the presidency, there were some allegations of vote rigging from losers, but the claims were never investigated.
Before dawn on Saturday, Tehran's streets were deserted, but there were worries of protests by Mousavi supporters if he is declared the loser.
Some Tehran residents on Saturday expressed some surprise that the results were so overwhelmingly in Ahmadinejad's favour.
Mousavi, a 1980s-era prime minister, was counting on an outpouring from what's been called his "green tsunami" - the signature colour of his campaign and the new banner for reformists seeking wider liberties at home and a gentler face for Iran abroad.
He raised hopes that a new leadership might embrace President Barack Obama's invitation to open dialogue and take a less confrontation path with the West over Iran's nuclear programme.
The Interior Ministry's partial results overwhelmingly favouring Ahmadinejad came as a surprise.
The outcome will not sharply alter Iran's main policies or sway major decisions, such as possible talks with Washington or nuclear policies.
Those crucial issues rest with the ruling clerics headed by the unelected Khamenei.
But the election focused on what the office can influence: boosting Iran's sinking economy, pressing for greater media and political freedoms, and being Iran's main envoy to the world.
The race will go to a runoff on June 19 if no candidate receives a simple majority of more than 50 percent of the votes cast.
Two other candidates - conservative former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei and moderate former parliament speaker Mahdi Karroubi - only got a fraction of the votes, according to the Interior Ministry's results. (source: APTN, June 2009)
0 comments:
Post a Comment