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Two million strong protesting in the streets of Tehran
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A man who sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg in an area where
pro-government militia were firing shots in the air, is carried to a nearby
car to be taken away to hospital, near a rally supporting leading opposition
presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tehran, Iran, Monday,
June 15, 2009. Hundreds of thousands gathered in Azadi (Freedom square in
Tehran to support Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims there was voting fraud in
Friday's election. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Libération.fr appears to be quite invested in the developments on the Iranian streets since the announcement of Ahmadinejad's 'victory' in the presidential election. They are reporting events as they happen, and last was heard that a civilian protester had been shot by Iranian police. This was at 7:45PM Paris time (EST + 6). Never had such public outcry been so damning, - the crowds were estimated to be between a million and a half to two million strong. They swore to 'fight to the end'.
The photographer who witnessed the shooting of the civilian refused to give his name, but indicated that the man had been shot dead by a bullet to the forehead. Another reporter from Agence France Presse said that he had heard several rounds being fired.
President Sarkozy indicated that he was deeply troubled by developments in Iran's political situation, while condemning the violence against civilians.
Monday evening, violent confrontations peaked to a crescendo between Iranian police and protesters who had come out in the thousands to contest the result of Ahmadinejad's victory. Protesters continued to set fire to trashcans and vehicles as they ran through the streets, where stacks of smoke billowed upwards in the air. Police were also firing tear gas in an attempt to break up the crowds.
At 6:00PM Paris time, the U.S. expressed its concern as to voting irregularities, but was cautious not to call it fraud. Restraint on the part of the U.S. is just about the best thing that can be done at a time like this, as Iran would find interference beneficial, so as to support claims of outside interference in the elections. The Iranian leadership has already condemned 'certain parties of the French government' for making hasty, irresponsible and interventionist judgements, adding that Iran's presidential election unfolded in a competitive climate, free and democratic, with the president coming away with 63% of the vote. Thus, kudos to Obama and his team for keeping their lips tight.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also commented that the true will of the people should be respected in Iran, while UK's Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared that Iran had some serious explaining to do, due to the people's response to the election's outcome.
Zahra Rahnevard, Moussavi's wife who campaigned with and for him said that 'we will go to the end' in contesting the results of the election.
Had democracy finally come to Iran?
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