| Supporters of Ahmadinejad's main
challenger, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, had to be
more inventive to find a place for their rally. Over the weekend, a
government organization refused permission for his campaign to use
Tehran's 120,000-seat Azadi Stadium for a rally originally planned
for Sunday. But in less than 24 hours, using text messages and
Facebook postings, thousands of Mousavi backers gathered along Vali-e
Asr Avenue, Tehran's 12-mile-long arterial road.
Many brought green ropes
or strings, which they tied together to form a giant chain in
Mousavi's signature color. Groups wearing green head scarves or
green T-shirts arrived from schools and universities. "This way,
down here," student organizer Mohsen Ghadiri, 19, called to about 40
students from the prestigious Elm-o-Sanat University, as they looked
for empty spaces in the long line of people. "Thanks to
Internet and text messages, we can rally big crowds in a very short
time," noted Ghadiri, who wore a green shirt emblazoned with
Mousavi's portrait.
Read full Washington
Post's story
In Iran Election, Tradition Competes With Web by Thomas Erdbrink
reporting from Tehran. |
