Iran: Guardian Council says NO to New Elections

Islamic regime opts for hard-line, but calls off pro-Ahmadinejad rally. But confrontation is not over yet.

BEIRUT (AsiaNews) - Iran's state TV on Tuesday reported that the country's top electoral authority has ruled out annulling the results of the disputed 12 June election despite claims of electoral fraud by the three defeated candidates. A spokesman for the Guardian Council, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, was quoted by Iran's state-run English language Press TV as saying that the organisation had found "no major fraud or breach in the election." The spokesman yesterday had said that turnout was higher than voters in "only" 50 cities.

"If a major breach occurs in an election, the Guardian Council may annul the votes," Kadkhodaei said. "Fortunately, in the recent presidential election we found no witness of major fraud or breach in the election. Therefore, there is no possibility of an annulment taking place," he added.

The announcement came after the Pasdaran and the Basij issued threats against further demonstrations against election results or against the ban on public funerals for Neda (pictured), a young woman killed in clashes who has become an iconic figure for young Iranians opposed to the elections results proclaimed by the government.

A statement posted on the Guard's Web site warned protesters to "be prepared for a resolution and revolutionary confrontation with the Guards, Basij and other security forces and disciplinary forces."

All this suggests that the regime's establishment has rejected any political mediation and opted instead for a hard-line solution.

At the same time protesters appear dazed by the confrontation and the massive deployment of police and paramilitary forces that are out, ready to snuff out every sign of protest, as happened yesterday in Tehran's Haft-e-Tir Square.

"Gambling on the fall of the Iranian regime is a sure loss," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said on Monday. Syria is a close ally of Iran.

However, the moderates might be down but they are not down. A major religious cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a long-time opponent of the Islamic regime, has called for three days of national morning, from Wednesday till Friday.

"I have unfortunately heard that in the pursuit of their legal rights through peaceful demonstrations, the great Iranian nation has been subjected to physical harm and beatings leading to blood and dust," he said.

"While announcing my condolences regarding these events and expressing my sympathy with the anguished Iranian people, I announce Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as days of public mourning and express my solemn and categorical support for peaceful movements of the Islamic nation in the defence of its rightful rights"

Concurrently, the decision to cancel a demonstration by Ahmadinejad's supporters in front of the British Embassy to protest against London's interference in domestic Iranian affairs might be a sign that Iran's rulers want to reduce tensions or are fearful that they might spark again.

For his part United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "dismayed by the post-election violence, particularly the use of force against civilians, which has led to the loss of life and injuries."

He called "on the authorities to respect fundamental civil and political rights, especially the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of information."

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