The Latest from Iran (26 December): The (Dis)Unity of Elections

Nikahang Kowsar portrays President Ahmadinejad's preparations for the Parliamentary elections in March

See also Iran Interview: Detained Mehdi Karroubi on "A Rigged and Forced Election Process"

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2115 GMT: Unity Watch. A short summary has been issued from today's meeting of the head of the three branch of Government --- President Ahmadinejad, Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, and head of judiciary Sadegh Larijani (see 1038 GMT). It declares that the three men insisted on no red lines to eradicate financial corruption.

The language indicates a deliberate attempt to show unity despite tensions --- this summer, President Ahmadinejad warned his foes not to cross "red lines" and prosecute his advisors and minister, while both Ahmadinejad and his critics among conservatives and principlists have accused each other of links to corruption cases.

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The Latest from Iran (3 October): Tehran Slides in the Region

See also Iran Feature: Who Will See the Invisible Iranians?
The Latest from Iran (2 October): Down, Down Goes the Currency

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1915 GMT: CyberWatch. BBC Persian reports on the banning of Virtual Private Networks --- access to computer servers from remote locations --- by the Iranian authorities.

1705 GMT: Bank Fraud Watch. Former President Mohammad Khatami has denied the allegation of the hard-line newspaper Kayhan (see 1010 GMT) that he is linked to the $2.6 billion bank fraud.

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