By VOA News
Iranian riot police and opposition supporters clashed in Tehran Monday, hours
after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was endorsed as president for a second term. A
correspondent for Iran's state-run Press TV says riot police used tear gas to
disperse about 2,000 demonstrators who gathered between Valiasr and Vanak
Squares in the capital.
|
A poster that had been distributed on the internet inviting the
people to join the Monday protest |
Iran has barred foreign news organizations from sending reporters to cover
opposition protests.
Earlier, Iran's supreme leader formally endorsed the second-term presidency of
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, despite opposition claims of fraud in his re-election.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved Mr. Ahmadinejad's presidency at an official
ceremony Monday in Tehran. Several hundred people were present, but there were
notable absences including two former presidents, Mohammed Khatami and Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani. Defeated reformist candidates, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi
Karroubi, also did not attend the event.
|
Ahmadinejad sitting next to Khamenei during an official ceremony in
Tehran on August 3rd where he received a decree endorsing his
presidency |
The supreme leader Monday praised the election's
outcome. Mr. Ahmadinejad will be sworn in by parliament on Wednesday.
The president has two weeks from that date to announce his new Cabinet.
After Mr. Ahmadinejad's first election four years ago, a photograph was
circulated of the new president kissing Khamenei's hand in a show of loyalty.
But this year, Iranian media report the supreme leader stepped back when Mr.
Ahmadinejad approached in an apparent attempt to kiss his hand Monday. The
ayatollah instead allowed the president to kiss his shoulder.
After the June 12 presidential election, Iranian security forces arrested
hundreds of activists, politicians and protesters. A mass trial for more than
100 of the detainees began Saturday.
Former President Khatami, who now heads one of the largest reform parties in
Iran, said Sunday the mass trial is unconstitutional.
He called the judicial proceedings a "show" trial, and said prosecutors are
relying on confessions that were illegally obtained.
... Payvand News - 08/04/09 ... --
