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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran protests planned before vote: Khamenei |
| 2009-08-27 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Iran's supreme leader said on Wednesday opposition protests that erupted after the country's June presidential vote were planned in advance, but he said he did not believe its leaders were agents of foreigners. Iranian officials have previously portrayed the protests as a foreign-backed bid to topple the clerical establishment. They have accused Western powers, particularly the United States and Britain of fomenting the unrest, a charge denied by Washington and London. "I do not accuse the leaders of the recent incidents to be subordinate to the foreigners, like the United States and Britain, since this issue has not been proven for me," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement read out by a newsreader. "This plot was defeated, since fortunately our enemies still do not understand the issue in Iran," added the statement, read out over pictures of Khamenei. "Our enemies were given a slap in face by the Iranian nation, but they are still hopeful and they are pursuing the issue," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |