Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Iran govt: Riots orchestrated by enemies

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-19 09:10

TEHRAN -- The government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a Thursday statement that "the enemies of the nation" are fomenting post-election riots across the country, the local Press TV reported.

File photograph taken on June 2, 2009 shows Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flashes a victory sign in Tehran, capital of Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has won a landslide victory in the 10th presidential election, securing a second term of presidency for the next four years, Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said on Saturday afternoon. [Xinhua]

"Our enemies and their media have hired some opportunists and mischievous elements and have misused the simple-mindedness of some people to cause unrest," the statement was quoted as saying.

Related readings:  Mousavi calls day of mourning for Iran dead  YouTube an online stage for Iran protest videos  Iran president attends summit as riots grip nation  Thousands return to streets of Iran's capital  China calls for 'stability' in Iran

It also accused the Western foreign media of "spreading lies and rumors" to create doubts over the health of Friday's presidential election, according to the report.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defended his re-election in the country's "most glorious" presidential election on Sunday, but his major challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi demanded the election result to be annulled.

In an address to thousands of his supporters in Tehran's Vali-e-Asr Square to celebrate his victory on Sunday, Ahmadinejad said " Iran's election is a real and free election" and that the "great people" of Iran chose the one whose policies they trust much.

On Saturday afternoon, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli announced that the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total votes during Friday's vote, while former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi got 33.75 percent in Iran's presidential competition.

Supporters of Iran's former Prime Minister Mousavi hold a picture of Mousavi during a rally in Tehran, capital of Iran, June 15, 2009. Tens of thousands of people were seen on Monday at Tehran's Enghelab Avenue marching all the way west to the prestigious Azadi (liberty) square, for a massive rally to support the defeated presidential candidate Mir- Hossein Mousavi. [Xinhua]

After the official declaration, Mousavi protested in a statement the "obvious" violations in Iran's presidential election.

Accordingly, a series of protest rallies were organized by the rival candidates, though urged to be held peaceful, in some instances ended in violence and the death of at least seven Iranians.