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| In Iran tumult, Mousavi hits out at biggest lie |
| 2009-08-13 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] As mass trials in Iran hint at opposition's alleged links with the West, defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi says the biggest lie is to incorporate the nation's desire for "reform" with foreign agendas. In a meeting with Reformist figures on Wednesday, Mousavi said none of the concerned members of the revolution thought they would see the day that Iran witnessed the recent tragedy that erupted in the aftermath of the election. The presidential candidate, who suffered a crushing defeat to incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a disputed election, added that no one wished a day when "lies after lies" were required to validate a 'fraudulent' election, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) reported. "The biggest lie of all is to attach the natural aspiration of the [Iranian] people for reform to foreigners," added the former prime minister, who served under the founder of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The June 12 vote sparked massive demonstrations by supporters of Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, another defeated candidate, who protested against the election result. Although the Guardian Council, the body tasked with overseeing elections, has ruled that the 10th presidential poll was the "healthiest" vote in 30 years, Mousavi and his supporters continue to defy its results. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have moved to try some 200 opposition figures, protesters and journalists as well as those who are charged with espionage and having possible links with Britain and France. The opposition, however, has slammed the mass trials as "sham", and urged the release of some 300 people who remain in custody. Mousavi on Wednesday questioned state TV's decision to air the hearing sessions of the "show trials" and claimed the move only served the interests of foreigners. "What serves the interests of foreigners: the people's protest movement which falls under the framework of the Constitution... or show trials where children of the Revolution are seated next to the hated Monafeqins [anti-Iran terrorists]?" he asked. "Which one serves the interests of the United States and Britain?" In an allusion to reports of prisoner abuse following the post-vote events, Mousavi said, "What happens in Iran's prisons these days clearly shows the necessity of a deep change in the country." The reports of sexual abuse in Iran's prisons have been denied by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Salt Alert: Iran Press TV is the Islamic Republic's foreign broadcasting service. It is based in Tehran. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2009-08-13 11:19 |
| #1 Toss me off Mousavi, given, I do not like you either. You still have 30,000 people to account for. They are not here now. I have long memory. |
| Posted by: newc 2009-08-13 00:36 |