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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran reform movement is alive: opposition leader
2009-12-07
[Al Arabiya Latest] Iran's opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi said on Sunday the reform movement was alive despite pressure from the clerical establishment to end it as former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani accused the government of intolerance.

Mousavi's remarks, a day before Iran plans to commemorate the killing of three students in 1953 under the former Shah, may encourage his supporters to hijack the state-organised rallies to revive anti-government protests.

" It is very bitter to see the same mistakes are repeated by the authorities who insist that reforms have ended...After all these pressures, the movement has not ended "
Mousavi
"It is very bitter to see the same mistakes are repeated by the authorities who insist that reforms have ended...After all these pressures, the movement has not ended," Mousavi said in a statement, the Kaleme website reported.

Iran's June 12 presidential election returned hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power with a wide margin. But his reformist opponents cried foul and thousands of Iranians took to the streets in the biggest anti-government protests since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran on Saturday banned foreign media from reporting on the planned rallies on Monday that authorities fear could turn into a new round of protests against the election.

Police and elite Revolutionary Guards have warned that any "illegal" rally will be fiercely confronted on Monday.

Several moderate websites have called on people to gather on Student Day near Tehran University, where the main state-rally will be held.

Reformist website Mowjcamp has warned of the possibility of clashes between security forces and demonstrators.

In September, opposition demonstrators clashed with government backers and police at annual pro-Palestinian rallies.

Security forces also clashed with supporters of Mousavi in Tehran on Nov. 4 during an anti-U.S. rally, used by the opposition to protest against the clerical establishment.
Posted by:Fred

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