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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran: Clerics threaten to leave after election protests
2009-07-14
A group of Iranian clerics in the holy city of Qom reportedly want to leave their country and relocate to the Iraqi city of Najaf, to protest against recent action by the government of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. News of their intentions was revealed on Monday on the opposition website 'Peiknet'. "This symbolic gesture evokes the historic political battles of the Shia clerics against the Persian monarchies," the site said.

In fact, when they wanted to protest their dissent against the government, several grand ayatollahs used to leave Iran, seeking refuge in the holy city of Najaf. If the ayatollahs of Qom left the Iranian city for Iraq on this occasion, it would clearly demonstrate they no longer back the government of Ahmadinejad.

"The repressive measures, coordinated by the same Supreme Leader, in the last few weeks have caused the death of citizens, and left him inadequate to continue the role of 'spiritual guide' of the country."
On Saturday, the Grand Ayatollah, Hossein Ali Montazeri, former deputy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, strongly criticised the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying he no longer had the legitimacy to continue in his position. "The repressive measures, coordinated by the same Supreme Leader, in the last few weeks have caused the death of citizens, and left him inadequate to continue the role of 'spiritual guide' of the country," he said.

On Saturday the Iranian government said it was preparing a new package of proposals to put to the West. Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said it would concern "political, security and international issues". He was speaking in Tehran hours after G8 leaders said they were appalled at Iran's disputed presidential election.

US President Barack Obama said global leaders were also "deeply troubled" by Iran's nuclear programme.
"How troubled are you, B.O.?"
"Deeply. Deeply."
Posted by:Fred

#1  "If Bush wins, we will move to Canada."
Posted by: newc   2009-07-14 12:04  

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