Disputed Iran Election Causes Chaos and Violence

The apparent election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday set off a series of clashes and protests, fueled by supporters of pro-reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claimed that the vote to re-elect Ahmadinejad was the result of widespread fraud. Mousavi, after the results of the election were announced, immediately urged supporters to resist, saying, "I’m warning that I won’t surrender to this manipulation. The outcome of what we’ve seen from the performance of officials is nothing but shaking the pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s sacred system and governance of lies and dictatorship."

Upon calling on Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to stop what he alleged were violations of Iran law, Mousavi was undoubtedly disappointed when Khamenei, an unelected official who holds unlimited power, noted that the nation should stand behind Ahmadinejad and that the election results were "divine assessment." Meanwhile, in the streets, protestors displayed their ire in more obvious ways, setting fire to tires outside of the Interior Ministry and charging at police and throwing rocks when anti-riot forces tried to subdue them.

The disputed vote, which saw an amazing 85% of over 46 million eligible voters turning out, was the only subject on the lips of Iranians over the weekend. "Many Iranians went to the people because they wanted to bring change," said Mousavi supporter Nasser Amiri. "Almost everybody I know voted for Mousavi but Ahmadinejad is being declared the winner. The government announcement is nothing but widespread fraud. It is very, very disappointing. I'll never ever again vote in Iran."