Showing posts with label Tehran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tehran. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Iranian plane falls from the sky, 168 feared dead

7/16/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


From Tehran, Caspian Airways flight 7908 with 168 passengers aboard was en route to the Armenian city of Yerevan when it crashed in northwestern Iran. About 16 minutes after take-off, the commercial plane was on fire before it touched ground, according to witnesses. On the disaster site, a huge crater with burning jetliner debris was created. There were no signs of survivors.

"Its wheels were out and there was fire coming from the lower parts," Abul-Fazel Idaji told Fars. "Moments later the plane hit the ground and broke into pieces." Among those presumed dead were 10 members of the Iranian national youth judo squad traveling to Yerevan for a summer training camp."---Los Angeles Times (07/15/09. Daragahi, B.)

Because of sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran had been relying on Russian-made aircrafts which many of its citizens believed were prone to mechanical trouble. The Caspian Airways operated in Iran and neighboring countries like Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Armenia. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/ Khalil Emami) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Iran election crisis continues as the world watches

6/23/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post






Opposition to the recent election which civil society deemed fraudulent continued with thousands of angry protesters clashing with government security officers in Iran. Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated rival of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continued to spill into Tehran streets to denounce the rigged election last June 12, 2009 in spite of warnings from the Revolutionary Guard to be prepared for a bloody confrontation.

The protesters who were attacked by teargas, truncheons, and guns demanded a rerun of the election that was riddled with irregularities.

Iranian TV reported at least 17 so far were killed and more than 400 were wounded in last Saturday’s riots. One of those who died was Neda Soltani, a young woman whose demise had become the inspiration of more mass actions. A memorial service for the martyred lady was rejected by authorities to prevent her from becoming a flashpoint of continued rebellion.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: “We are worried and particularly saddened over the violence and loss of life that this is creating and we ask the Iranian government to urgently adopt conditions to create a peaceful solution to the internal crisis. The right to safeguard human lives comes before everything else.“---Iran Daily (06/22/09)

US Pres. Barack Obama expressed his support to the protesters, but many criticize him for not speaking strongly for human rights and democratic principles.

In the past few days, the US, Britain, France, and other European countries asked the Iranian leadership to respect human rights, democratic process, and halt all violence against the people. The Iranian government responded by calling these countries “irresponsible and intrusive.”

As the protesters mull on their next move, a demonstration has been scheduled on Thursday, June 25, 2009. In solidarity with the Iranian protesters, similar rallies against the Iranian rogue regime have been staged in London, Hamburg, Paris, Berlin, Istanbul, Washington, Kuwait City, Tokyo, and other major cities of the world. (Photo Credit: PD; AFP; Reuters/ Farhad Rajabali) =0=

RELATED BLOGS: "Protests against Iran’s contested election continue" Posted by mesiamd at 6/16/2009; "Ahmadinejad wins in Iranian election" Posted by mesiamd at 6/14/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Protests against Iran’s contested election continue

6/16/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post






Riots against the alleged fraudulent landslide re-election of hardliner Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad grew in the streets of Tehran. Thousands of irate Iranians clashed with the police injuring many and killing at least one person in the largest protest since 1979.

Droves of pro-democracy forces and opposition activists loyal to rival candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi continued to vent anger to the rigging of the election. It prompted supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was originally supportive of the election result to order an investigation into the alleged voter anomalies.

World leaders expressed concern over the continued chaos in the streets which have ramifications to the stalled diplomatic overtures to have Iran abandon its nuclear program.

While evaluating the suspected landslide win of Ahmadinejad, Pres. Barack Obama said it’s up for the Iranians to choose their leaders. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared support to look into the contested presidential election. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband voiced "serious concern" while French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed worry over Iran’s political situation. (Photo Credit: Mark Baker/ AP; AP; Behrouz Mehri/ AFP/ Getty Images.=0=

UPDATE: June 16, 2007---7 Iranians protesting the cheating in the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were gunned down in a public square during a confrontation with riot policemen.

RELATED BLOG: "Ahmadinejad wins in Iranian election" Posted by mesiamd at 6/14/2009

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PostHeaderIcon Ahmadinejad wins in Iranian election

6/14/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


In a disputed election last Friday, June 12, 2009, Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won over his chief rival reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi sparking riots and protests in Tehran and other Iranian streets. With allegations of election fraud, Ahmadinejad’s winning gives him another 4-year term to pursue his promised “bright and glorious” future for Iran which is actively pursuing its dangerous nuclear program.

"Many backers took this call to the streets. Thousands of protesters — mostly young men — roamed through Tehran looking for a fight with police and setting trash bins and tires ablaze. Pillars of black smoke rose among the mustard-colored apartment blocks and office buildings in central Tehran. In one side road, an empty bus was engulfed in flames."---AP (06/14/09, Johnson, A; Murphy, B.)

Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei brushed aside the protests over Friday’s vote and welcomed the 80% election turnout. The Interior Ministry disclosed that Ahmadinejad garnered more than 63% and Mousavi received 35%.

“Iran in turmoil will not be ready to engage Obama," said Bruce Riedel, veteran US inteligence official…. Congress and pro-Israel conservatives, already strongly critical of Ahmadinejad, will undoubtedly press Obama to put a tight deadline on his overture to Iran. They are expected to urge him to move on to tougher measures, such as economic sanctions or military action, to try to compel Tehran to give up its nuclear ambitions.” LA Times (06/14/09, Richter, P)

Ahmadinejad advocates the destruction and annihilation of Israel. He brings fresh challenge in keeping the balance of peace in the Middle East. Like Mousavi, he supports terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. His election will make it harder for the United States, UN, and their allies to pursue a peaceful resolution against the nuclear threat Iran poses to the world.

US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton doubts whether Ahmadinejad won by landslide victory----something that the Iranian people must decide.
(Photo Credit: LA Times/ AP/ Ben Curtis) =0=

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