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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran reformists stage comeback?
2006-12-18
Ultra-conservatives close to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have failed to sweep the countryÂ’s local council and Assembly of Experts elections, with moderate forces performing well, initial results showed on Sunday.

Centrist cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani reaped by far the most votes, beating a hardline rival, Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, viewed as AhmadinejadÂ’s spiritual mentor, in the Assembly of Experts elections. According to partial results, Rafsanjani held first place with 1.3 million votes, almost half a million more than the second placed cleric, the current head of the body, Ayatollah Ali Meshkini.
Calling Rafsanjani a "centrist" is purdy good disinformation, PakiWaki DT.
Quik Quiz: Stalin | Beria | Trotsky -- Pick the "centrist".
Which reminds me, didn't the "Ultras" know Stalin's Maxim:
"It's not the people who vote that count. It's the people who count the votes."
Truth... but the best part is that Stalin didn't say it, lol.
In the keenly-watched race for the Tehran city council, reformists were on course to take a handful of seats and end its total conservative domination of the body. “The results are a clear defeat for the allies of Ahmadinejad,” said the main Participation Front reformist party. “Voters said a resounding ‘no’ to the incompetence and authoritarian methods of the government.”
Posted by:Fred

#4  I am guessing any real reformists were prohibited from running by the mullahs.
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2006-12-18 17:00  

#3  Accoding to DEBKA:
"Only one-tenth of the votes had been counted in Tehran 60 hours after balloting ended because the presidentÂ’s followers, backed by Revolutionary Guards stormed the central election committee. They stopped the counting several times to force the counters with threats and physical harassment to falsify the results and reverse the presidentÂ’s opponentsÂ’ gains. The most painful blow has been the victory of his main rival ex-president Hashem Rafsanjani in early results to the powerful Assembly of Experts. Therefore, the results when published later this week may hold surprises."
Seems believable to me.
Posted by: Glenmore   2006-12-18 14:52  

#2  Good cop, bad cop.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-12-18 10:34  

#1  From al Guardian:

Iranian students hide in fear for lives after venting fury at Ahmadinejad

Iranian student activists who staged an angry protest against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week have gone into hiding in fear for their lives after his supporters threatened them with revenge.
One student fled after being photographed holding a banner reading, "Fascist president, the polytechnic is not for you", during Mr Ahmadinejad's visit to Tehran's Amir Kabir university. At least three others have gone underground after being seen burning his picture. Vigilantes from the militant Ansar-e Hezbollah group have been searching for them.

Posted by: Glenmore   2006-12-18 07:42  

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