Iranian state radio has reported that about seven people have lost their lives in clashes overnight, an aftermath of a huge rally staged in protest against the election outcome. About a day earlier, Tehran had seen one of the largest demonstrations since the 1979 revolution with several thousands of people from across Iranian society coming on to the streets to show their protest of Saturday’s presidential election.
The announcement of the seven deaths did not give details of who the victims were or the nature of their death. Monday’s protests were believed to have been largely peaceful and only one death had been reported previously,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s ultimate leader, in a response to this protest called for a formal review of the results. But Mr. Ahmadinejad’s decision to leave the country on an earlier planned visit to Russia and carry on as head of state, seemd to have infuriated voters, who already had grown incensed when the president compared them to angry soccer fans whose team had lost.
In his first public comment on the situation in Iran, American President Obama said he was deeply concerned by post-election violence and called on Iranian leaders to respect free speech and the democratic process.
Protesters seemd to have been infuriated by the comment of Mr. Ahmadinejad Sunday when he dismissed them as nothing more than soccer fans who had just lost a game and as “dust.” Earlier Monday, Ayatollah Khamenei moved to the forefront to try to calm a growing backlash. He called for the Guardian Council to conduct an inquiry into the opposition’s claims that the election was fixed.
Mr. Moussavi, leader of the opposition who had called for the rally on Sunday but never received official permission for it, joined the crowd, like Mohammad Khatami, the reformist former president.
The protesters said they would continue, with another major rally planned for Tuesday. But nobody could guess if Khamenei’s call for an enquiry would change the election results.
In Isfahan, south of Tehran, more violence broke out on Monday, with the police attacking a crowd of several thousand opposition protesters and rioters setting fires in parts of the city.
In Washington, a State Department spokesman, Ian C. Kelly, said that the United States was “deeply troubled” by the disorder in Iran and was anxious about allegations of ballot fraud.
The Guardian Council, that has been given 10 days to review the results, is closely aligned with the supreme leader and with Mr. Ahmadinejad. It also has the full support of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij militia. However, nothing can be guessed till the inquiry results come out.
