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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Basij calls for Mousavi inquiry |
| 2009-07-02 |
| [ADN Kronos] Iran's Basij militia has called for an investigation into the role of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi in the violent street protests that followed last month's presidential election. The move came as a grenade attack was foiled against a religious shrine in the capital Tehran on Wednesday. The semiofficial Fars news agency said the militia has sent Iran's chief prosecutor a letter accusing Mousavi of taking part in nine offences against the state, including "disturbing the nation's security." That charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment. The militia said that Mousavi was attempting to undermine state security and reports have been circulating that he could soon face a judge to respond to nine criminal offences against the state. At least 20 people were killed and more than 1,000 were arrested in the protests that followed Ahmadinejad's re-election, which Mousavi supporters say was rigged. "Police arrested 1,032 people in the recent riots. Many have been released and the rest are being prosecuted in Tehran's public and revolutionary courts," Iranian police chief Ahmadi Moghaddam was quoted as saying by Fars on Wednesday. The Basiji are known as the street enforcers of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mousavi is continuing to insist that he won the presidential election. He did not immediately respond to Wednesday's allegations. Staff at the Imam Zadeh Saleh mausoleum found a grenade that had been left in a garbage can in the women's bathroom. The grenade's safety pin had been removed and a piece of tape had been put in its place, said the chief of the Tehran section of the Charity Organisation, Yadollah Shirmardi, quoted by semi-official news agency Fars on Wednesday. Shirmardi said the explosive device was set to explode ahead of evening prayers when the area is crowded. The mausoleum - a popular tourist destination - is located near Tajrish square, one of the busiest parts of Tehran. Imam Zadeh Saleh is the son of the seventh Shia Saint Musa al-Kazim, and the brother of Ali ar-Rida, the seventh descendant of Islam's Prophet Mohammed. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 I have no more use for Mousavi than for Dinner Jacket. Like Hamas and Hezbollah. I do have sympathy for the people for whom these are the only choices, but for the true supporters of any of the above - let the Red on Red begin. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-07-02 07:50 |