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Crackdown warning over Iran rally Crackdown warning over Iran rally
(10 minutes later)
Iranian police have warned they are ready to use force to prevent a rally in the capital Tehran over the disputed presidential poll.Iranian police have warned they are ready to use force to prevent a rally in the capital Tehran over the disputed presidential poll.
Hundreds of police are said to have gathered in the city centre, amid an atmosphere of extreme tension.Hundreds of police are said to have gathered in the city centre, amid an atmosphere of extreme tension.
There are conflicting reorts as to whether the rally will go ahead. There are conflicting reports as to whether the rally will go ahead.
But correspondents say a demand by the country's supreme leader to end street protests appears to have made some protesters merely more determined.But correspondents say a demand by the country's supreme leader to end street protests appears to have made some protesters merely more determined.
In the face of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's sternly worded warning on Friday, the wife of defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and an aide to another rival candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, said the rally would go ahead.In the face of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's sternly worded warning on Friday, the wife of defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and an aide to another rival candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, said the rally would go ahead.
LATEST FROM TEHRAN The BBC's Jon Leyne 1100GMT TEHRAN Jon Leyne
I have heard there is a substantial security presence on the streets of Tehran. This really is looking like the big showdown. We are waiting to see, crucially, whether a planned opposition rally goes ahead this afternoon, in defiance of the Supreme Leader's tough warning. My view is that it is so late now, opposition supporters will turn up whatever their leaders say.
Mr Mousavi and Mr Karroubi have apparently lost faith in the legal appeals process. The Supreme Leader himself has announced that the result is absolutely right and a body so loyal to him as the Guardian Council is not about to overturn it. It is a very confused and tense situation. The security forces are out on the streets. They have been issuing dire warnings that they will deal with any unauthorised demonstrations with determination.
I have heard increasing numbers of opposition people say they would rather die than live in the country the way it is now. This is all about the position of the Supreme Leader. Any rally, particularly if it is attended by the opposition leaders, would be the most direct challenge to his authority. If it goes ahead and there is a large crowd, that would be a massive challenge to him. If it goes ahead and it is broken up with violent force, that could also damage his position enormously. It is a very tense situation. These are huge political issues at stake, if not even the future of the Islamic Republic.
This is a bitter fight for control of this country, it could threaten the existence of the Islamic Republic. It is hard to see how the opposition could win this battle without the Supreme Leader being toppled from power. And if that happened, it would put grave doubts on the whole basis of the system.
But later reports said first that Mr Mousavi would be making a statement, then that Mr Karoubi's party had cancelled the protest.But later reports said first that Mr Mousavi would be making a statement, then that Mr Karoubi's party had cancelled the protest.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that even if the rallies are formally cancelled, it is so late now that many protesters are expected to turn up anyway.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that even if the rallies are formally cancelled, it is so late now that many protesters are expected to turn up anyway.
See map of central Tehran See map of central Tehran
Speaking on state TV, deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan warned police would "certainly fight against any form of illegal gathering and protest". He also said protest organisers would be arrested.Speaking on state TV, deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan warned police would "certainly fight against any form of illegal gathering and protest". He also said protest organisers would be arrested.
It seems this may be the big moment of confrontation, our correspondent says.It seems this may be the big moment of confrontation, our correspondent says.
Tensions have mounted over the previous week, with scores of people arrested and tough restrictions imposed on foreign media, including the BBC.Tensions have mounted over the previous week, with scores of people arrested and tough restrictions imposed on foreign media, including the BBC.
Recount offerRecount offer
Official results of the 12 June presidential poll gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a resounding 63% of votes, compared to 34% for his nearest rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi.Official results of the 12 June presidential poll gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a resounding 63% of votes, compared to 34% for his nearest rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Tough choice for Mousavi Reporters' log: Iran's upheaval Key excerpts: Khamenei speech Living in Iran: Your viewsTough choice for Mousavi Reporters' log: Iran's upheaval Key excerpts: Khamenei speech Living in Iran: Your views
The result triggered almost daily street protests - a challenge to ruling authorities unprecedented since the Islamic revolution of 1979.The result triggered almost daily street protests - a challenge to ruling authorities unprecedented since the Islamic revolution of 1979.
Mr Mousavi had been expected, along with fellow challengers Mr Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai, to discuss more than 600 objections they had filed complaining about the poll at a meeting of the Guardian Council, which certifies elections, on Saturday.Mr Mousavi had been expected, along with fellow challengers Mr Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai, to discuss more than 600 objections they had filed complaining about the poll at a meeting of the Guardian Council, which certifies elections, on Saturday.
But neither Mr Mousavi nor Mr Karroubi attended the meeting - which suggests, our correspondent says, they have abandoned their legal challenge to the election results.But neither Mr Mousavi nor Mr Karroubi attended the meeting - which suggests, our correspondent says, they have abandoned their legal challenge to the election results.
State TV quoted the Guardian Council as saying it was "ready" to recount a randomly selected 10% of ballot boxes.State TV quoted the Guardian Council as saying it was "ready" to recount a randomly selected 10% of ballot boxes.
It had previously offered a partial recount of disputed ballots from the election, rather than the full re-run of the election demanded by protesters.It had previously offered a partial recount of disputed ballots from the election, rather than the full re-run of the election demanded by protesters.
The human-rights group Amnesty International says it believed about 10 people had been killed in the protests.The human-rights group Amnesty International says it believed about 10 people had been killed in the protests.
On Friday, US President Barack Obama warned Iran that the "world is watching" events there. He expressed concern at "some of the tenor and tone of the statements that have been made".On Friday, US President Barack Obama warned Iran that the "world is watching" events there. He expressed concern at "some of the tenor and tone of the statements that have been made".
Ayatollah's addressAyatollah's address
A new rally on Saturday would directly challenge an order from Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's spiritual leader and highest authority.A new rally on Saturday would directly challenge an order from Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's spiritual leader and highest authority.
'The Islamic Republic would not cheat''The Islamic Republic would not cheat'
"Straight challenge is not acceptable after the election," Ayatollah Khamenei told thousands of Iranians who massed to hear him on Friday."Straight challenge is not acceptable after the election," Ayatollah Khamenei told thousands of Iranians who massed to hear him on Friday.
"This is challenging democracy and election itself. I want every side to put an end to this method. If they don't then the responsibility of its consequences, the riots should be shouldered by those who do not put an end to it.""This is challenging democracy and election itself. I want every side to put an end to this method. If they don't then the responsibility of its consequences, the riots should be shouldered by those who do not put an end to it."
The ayatollah insisted the Islamic Republic would not "cheat voters" - and blamed foreign powers, in particular the UK, for fomenting the unrest.The ayatollah insisted the Islamic Republic would not "cheat voters" - and blamed foreign powers, in particular the UK, for fomenting the unrest.
He said "bloodshed" would result if the protests went ahead.He said "bloodshed" would result if the protests went ahead.
The rally was attended by President Ahmadinejad. But former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - a close associate of Mr Mousavi, and open critic of President Ahmadinejad - did not attend.The rally was attended by President Ahmadinejad. But former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - a close associate of Mr Mousavi, and open critic of President Ahmadinejad - did not attend.
But correspondents say the ayatollah's warning only appeared to incite protesters, and the nightly chants of "God is great" - which have echoed from rooftops around Tehran in a call to protest - became louder on Friday night.But correspondents say the ayatollah's warning only appeared to incite protesters, and the nightly chants of "God is great" - which have echoed from rooftops around Tehran in a call to protest - became louder on Friday night.
Although the Supreme Leader controls many levers of power, Mr Rafsanjani heads the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to elect the leader, supervise him, and theoretically even to dismiss him, our correspondent says.Although the Supreme Leader controls many levers of power, Mr Rafsanjani heads the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to elect the leader, supervise him, and theoretically even to dismiss him, our correspondent says.
Behind the scenes, he says, there appears to be both a political battle between two veterans of the Islamic Revolution, but also a titanic dispute about the whole future of Iran, whose outcome no-one can predict.Behind the scenes, he says, there appears to be both a political battle between two veterans of the Islamic Revolution, but also a titanic dispute about the whole future of Iran, whose outcome no-one can predict.
Are you in Iran? What do you think of the current situation? What do you think of the ayatollah's speech?Are you in Iran? What do you think of the current situation? What do you think of the ayatollah's speech?
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