A massive rally has occurred today, one that might be the largest in the history of Iran, perhaps the Islamic world, the hajj to Mecca excluded of course. Ominously there are reports that a major crackdown is planned for tomorrow.
TEHRAN — Hundreds of thousands of black-clad protesters massed quietly in central Tehran on Thursday for another day of protest over last week’s disputed presidential election, even as the Iranian government made its first move toward some form of dialogue to defuse the outrage.The move came in the form of an invitation from the country’s powerful Guardian Council to the three losing candidates to meet to discuss their grievances.
The exact motives, timing and conditions of the proposed meeting, reported by state media, remained unclear. The offer, from a legal panel largely controlled by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was widely seen as a government effort to buy time in the hopes of dampening the momentum of days of enormous protests taking place in open defiance of the government’s authority.
Word is at the meeting threats were issued, via HA:
Update: Yep, sounds like tomorrow’s the moment of truth.
The moderate Iranian leader who says that he was robbed of victory in last week’s presidential election faces a fateful choice today: support the regime or be cast out.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has told Mir Hossein Mousavi to stand beside him as he uses Friday prayers at Tehran University to call for national unity. An army of Basiji — Islamic volunteer militiamen — is also expected to be bussed in to support the Supreme Leader.
The demand was made at a meeting this week with representatives of all three candidates who claim that the poll was rigged, and it puts Mr Mousavi on the spot…It was unclear last night what he would do or even whether the protests would die away if he backed down.
I wish the demonstrators luck and protection. What will Khamenei do?
People in Iran look to the west and see things improving in Iraq. This current uproar would never have happened if President Bush hadn't gone after Saddam and had the cojones to stick it out when things were hard. If Saddam were still in place, I just can't see the Iranian people making this kind of move with their lifelong enemy still next door.
ReplyDeleteJust hopin' it all ends well.
"What will Khamenei do?"
ReplyDeleteHold out, weather the storm, placate the masses with some symbolic gestures. Then back to business as usual with a wink and a nod from the Obama administration.