Iranian Government Media Declares Mousavi a 'Criminal' [View All]

[JudyInTheHeartland]

Source: Washington Post

Iranian Government Media Declares Mousavi a 'Criminal'

By Thomas Erdbrink and William Branigin
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, June 21, 2009 2:07 PM

TEHRAN, June 21 -- Iranian government media Sunday launched a campaign against Mir Hussein Mousavi and his supporters, calling the leader of the protests over Iran's disputed election a "criminal" and comparing demonstrators to members of a hated terrorist group.

Mousavi, a former prime minister who charges that he was cheated of victory in the June 12 election over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, warned late Saturday on his newspaper's Web site that "dangerous ways" lie ahead if people are not allowed to defend their rights peacefully. He said he and his followers do not oppose the Islamic Republic's system and structures but "are against deviation and lying, and we seek to reform that."

Iranian state television reported that 10 people died and more than 100 were injured Saturday when clashes broke out between security forces and protesters assembling for a pro-Mousavi rally that authorities had banned. First reports said as many as 13 people had died, but that was later reduced to 10. Foreign journalists have been banned from covering the protests.

The confrontation resulted in fiery chaos, as security forces blocked streets and used tear gas, water cannons and batons to break up the demonstration. Security forces were seen firing warning shots into the air, but there were also reports that several people were hit by gunfire.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/21/AR2009062100146_pf.html