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Seven killed during Iran protest | Seven killed during Iran protest |
(20 minutes later) | |
Iranian state radio says seven people were killed during Monday's protests in Tehran over the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | Iranian state radio says seven people were killed during Monday's protests in Tehran over the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
The reports said the deaths came after "thugs" attacked a military post. | The reports said the deaths came after "thugs" attacked a military post. |
The country's powerful Guardian Council has described the results of the disputed poll as "provisional". | |
Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi wants them annulled, alleging widespread fraud. More street protests against the results are planned. | |
Monday's rally involved hundreds of thousands of people and was one of the largest since the Iranian revolution 30 years ago. | Monday's rally involved hundreds of thousands of people and was one of the largest since the Iranian revolution 30 years ago. |
President Obama called on Iran's leaders to respect people's right "to peacefully dissent" | |
The radio report said the attack occurred at the end of the "illegal" rally as people were heading home "peacefully". | The radio report said the attack occurred at the end of the "illegal" rally as people were heading home "peacefully". |
"Several thugs wanted to attack a military post and vandalise public property in the vicinity of Azadi Square," the radio said referring to the site of the protest. | "Several thugs wanted to attack a military post and vandalise public property in the vicinity of Azadi Square," the radio said referring to the site of the protest. |
"Unfortunately seven people were killed and several others wounded in the incident." | "Unfortunately seven people were killed and several others wounded in the incident." |
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that in light of what he saw of the vast and largely peaceful protests this seems an unlikely version of events. | |
Inquiry | |
Our correspondent adds that the authorities appear to be weakening in their support for President Ahmadinejad. | |
The country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered an inquiry into the allegations of vote-rigging. | |
Mr Mousavi and two other moderate candidates contesting the election results are due to meet members of the Guardian Council - a powerful clerical group dominated by conservatives. | |
On Monday a spokesman for the council said that the results had not yet been finalised, and that they would only be final once the council has endorsed them. | |
Earlier, in his first comments on the situation, US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply troubled" by the violence in Iran. | Earlier, in his first comments on the situation, US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply troubled" by the violence in Iran. |
He said he would continue pursuing tough dialogue with Iran. | He said he would continue pursuing tough dialogue with Iran. |
"I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability for folks to peacefully dissent, all those are universal values and need to be respected." | "I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability for folks to peacefully dissent, all those are universal values and need to be respected." |
But the BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Washington, says the president studiously avoided any comment on the allegations of vote fraud. | But the BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Washington, says the president studiously avoided any comment on the allegations of vote fraud. |
"We respect Iranian sovereignty and want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran," Mr Obama said. | "We respect Iranian sovereignty and want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran," Mr Obama said. |
Meanwhile, President Ahmadinejad arrived in Russia on Tuesday to attend a regional summit - a trip that had been delayed because of the protests. | Meanwhile, President Ahmadinejad arrived in Russia on Tuesday to attend a regional summit - a trip that had been delayed because of the protests. |