Iran: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sides with Ahmadinejad, Promises Crackdown

Any hopes for a fair review of the legality of the election in Iran have been dashed.

TEHRAN (Catholic Online) - "Some of our enemies in different parts of the world intended to depict this absolute victory, this definitive victory, as a doubtful victory. It is your victory. They cannot manipulate it" proclaimed the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as he spoke to massive crowds at a Friday Prayer service. Any hopes of his recognizing the will of the people for a review of the legality of the election was dashed.

With stern and unequivocal words the "supreme leader" of Iran lowered the official hammer of censorship against what has become a genuinely popular uprising against the seriously tainted results of the recent election in Iran. He also laid down the law, warning protestors that they must cease their demonstrations of they will suffer consequences.

In a much anticipated message at the Friday prayer service, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered no concessions to the massive number of peaceful protestors who have filled the streets of that beleaguered Nation seeking another election. He sided definitively with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and called the June 12th election a "definitive victory." He not only repeated the staggering claim that 11 million votes separated the two candidates, Ahmadinejad and his top opponent, but offered the seriously suspect number as some kind of proof that there was no fraud.

So the eyes of the entire world will continue to watch Iran. Will the massive rallies continue? Will they be met with a violent crackdown? Will the black out of news coverage and attempted censorship of the new media continue?

The "supreme leader" told the crowd assembled and the Nation watching on State sponsored TV: "It must be determined at the ballot box what the people want and what they don't want, not in the streets. I call on all to put an end to this method. ... If they don't, they will be held responsible for the chaos and the consequences....Some may imagine that street action will create political leverage against the system and force the authorities to give in to threats. No, this is wrong."

Of course the claim that this election allowed such a fair showing of the will of the people at the ballot box begs the question. The vote being questioned by the millions in Iran appears to have been compromised by massive fraud.

The whole world is watching.

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