Ahmadinejad: Stop interfering in internal affairs of Iran; 19 People Killed in Iran in Post Election Violence; Guardian Council Agreed for Partial Recount; Assembly of Experts Supports Khamenei Statements
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    • Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked the US and Britain to stop interfering in Iran’s internal affairs in the aftermath of the country’s June 12 presidential elections. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had earlier rejected Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki’s charge that ‘foreign’ countries, specifically Britain, had manipulated the demonstrations in Tehran and other places. Mottaki had claimed that Britain “plotted against the presidential election for more than two years” and that there had been an “influx” of British agents into Iran ahead of the election1.

    State television meanwhile put the death toll after a week of unrest at 19. However the English-language Press TV, which is broadcast only outside the country, put the toll at 13 and termed those who died as “terrorists.” Amnesty International meanwhile stated that it was “perilously hard” to verify the casualty tolls.

    Report also stated that authorities arrested the daughter and four other relatives of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was accused by President Ahmadinejad of ‘corruption.’ Rafsanjani heads two very powerful groups. These include the Assembly of Experts, made up of senior clerics who can elect and dismiss the Supreme Leader and the other is the Expediency Council, a body that arbitrates disputes between parliament and the unelected Guardian Council.

    US President Barack Obama on June 20 urged Iranian authorities to halt “all violent and unjust actions against its’ own people.” He stated that the United States “stands by all who seek to exercise the universal rights to assembly and free speech.” Supreme Leader Khamenei on his part sided firmly with Ahmadinejad, and termed the election results an “absolute victory” that reflected popular will and ordered opposition leaders to end their street protests2.

    A spokesman of the Guardian Council stated that it was ready to randomly recount 10 percent of the ballot boxes. It also invited defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mahdi Karroubi, and Mohsen Rezaii to attend its emergency session to discuss their complaints about the election results. However, only Mohsen Rezaii attended the meeting3.

    The Assembly of Experts also expressed its strong support for the Supreme Leader’s statements on the presidential elections. In a statement, members of the assembly hoped that the nation would adhere to the Supreme Leader’s guidelines and show patience. Other groups like the Qom Seminary Teachers Society also issued a statement declaring strong support for the guidelines of the Supreme Leader4.

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