2140 GMT: Persian2English reports that more than a thousand relatives of detainees gathered outside Evin Prison to commemorate Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning after the religious occasion of Ashura. Demonstrators offered prayers and chanted “Allahu Akhbar (God is great)”.
1925 GMT: Zahra Rahnavard, the wife of Mir Hossein Mousavi, has issued a statement demanding the freeing of all political prisoners before 22 Bahman. Rahnavard, an academic at Tehran University, points to the problems that women have experienced under the regime and praises their passion on issues of freedom and equality.
1830 GMT: Catching Up. Highlighting a story that our readers noted this afternoon, Hassan Rassouli, a deputy of the Baran Foundation, headed by former President Mohammad Khatami, and Abolfazl Ghadiani, a member of central committee of the Mohajedin of Islamic Revolution party, were freed last night on bail. Read the rest of this entry »
President Barack Obama, at his press conference after the end of the G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy, focused on the environment, global economy, and international security. As for Iran, he reiterated the deep concern of the international community over the extreme violence against demonstrations and stated that the door for negotiation is open to Tehran until September, when the G20 Summit will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the US.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, everybody have a seat. I apologize for being a little bit late. Good afternoon.
We have just concluded the final session of what has been a highly productive summit here in L’Aquila. And before I discuss what we’ve achieved these past three days, I’d like to take a moment to express my thanks to Prime Minister Berlusconi, his staff, the people of Italy for their extraordinary hospitality and hard work in setting up this summit. And particularly I want to thank the people of L’Aquila for welcoming us to your home at this difficult time. We’ve seen how you’ve come together and taken care of each other, and we’ve been moved by your courage and your resilience and your kindness. Read the rest of this entry »
So Mark Sanford (pictured), Governor of South Carolina and a Republican Presidential hopeful for 2012, has fallen, if not by the wayside, for the wiles of a shady lady from Argentina.
It seems like no time at all since New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, another Republican presidential contender, got stung, this time trading cash for lady’s favours in the time-honoured way of “the oldest profession”. Even though Tony Blair’s Ministers, even “Lord Cashpoint” (Lord Levy) of cash-for-honours infamy, was never accused of this, the Sanford case leads me to question our fascination, both in America and Britain, with the ability of our political leaders to remain faithful to their wives and partners. Read the rest of this entry »
2220 GMT: Politically, the evening highlight appears to be the Supreme Leader’s meeting with representatives of the four Presidential campaigns, calling for them to join together for “national unity”. The move seems to be more of an attempt to buy some more political time while the Guardian Council tries to sort out its options — all candidates will have been told of the necessity to keep demonstrations non-violent and non-threatening to the regime.
Elsewhere, chatter about gatherings has died down (it is, after all, 3 a.m. in Iran), so the hope is that there will be none of the violence that was feared earlier today.
Thanks to all for working with us today. We’ll see you about 0530 GMT — until then, our thoughts are with friends and colleagues in Iran.
2115 GMT: Breaking News On, citing the Wall Street Journal, says gunmen have seriously injured at least one person after opening fire on Mousavi supporters in Tehran. We’re unable to find the specific information on the WSJ’s site at this time. [Posted by Mike]
2100 GMT: Barack Obama has told CNBC that the outcome of events in Iran will make little difference to US policy towards Iran, and that Iranian hostility towards the US would remain:
“I think it’s important to understand that although there is amazing ferment taking place in Iran, the difference in actual policies between Ahmadinejad and Moussavi in terms of their actual policies may not be as great as advertised,” he said. “I think it’s important to understand that either way we are going to be dealing with a regime in Iran that is hostile to the US. We have long term interests in not having them with nuclear power and funding terrorism.”
[Posted by Mike]
1845 GMT: I am on a break for a couple of hours. Please keep items coming in for our late evening update — we are following stories of a possible large march tomorrow and a statement by Ayatollah Montazeri.
Reports that former President Rafsanjani and his daughter were amongst demonstrators marching from Vanak Square today.
1755 GMT: Twitter sources say Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi was at the rally in front of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting complex and spoke to the demonstrators.
1750 GMT: Has the BBC, normally cautious about showing any political opinion in a conflict, tilted toward the Iranian oppositions? The Beeb’s homepage has turned from its usual Red to Green.
1630 GMT: Press TV still focuses on pro-Ahmadinejad rally but adds, “Pro-Mousavi rallies surround the venue” (possibly a coded reference to demonstrating outside the main Iranian broadcasting complex), and says Mousavi is among the crowd.
1535 GMT: Twitter references to “tens of thousands” of opposition demonstrators in front of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting complex are complemented by witness reports to BBC of “a mass rally in northern Tehran”.
1530 GMT: Press TV English’s “News in Brief” highlights pro-Ahmadinejad rally noting, “This square was supposed to be the venue of a rally for Mousavi supporters but Ahmadinejad supporters decided to show up in the same location earlier.”
1520 GMT: The pro-Ahmadinejad rally has proceeded peacefully while, after the cancellation of the main opposition rally earlier today, smaller demonstrations have been occurring across Tehran. There are stories of more attacks by security forces and paramilitary Basiji at universities, including Shiraz and Mashaad. The BBC has reported the story, which circulated yesterday, that 120 faculty resigned at Tehran University.
A note on the media coverage: it became painfully apparent this afternoon that Al Jazeera’s correspondent was reported from the confines of his (badly set up for sound) office. When the programme’s host mentioned this, the correspondent replied that he was free to move around Tehran but, in a convoluted explanation, added that he was restricting himself “for his own safety”. I suspect Government monitors were either nearby or watching intently from a Ministry. Other international media have also been effectively blinded by teh restrictions on movement. Read the rest of this entry »
The response of President Obama to the first question in the press conference after his meeting with Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi. Note the balance between his concern over the aftermath of the election and his continued pursuit of engagement with Iran: “We will continue to pursue a tough, direct dialogue between our two countries, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
QUESTION: Mr. President, on Iran, does the disputed election results affect — there’s been violence in the street — in any way change your willingness to meet with Mr. Ahmadinejad without preconditions? And also, do you have anything to say, any message to send to people who are on the streets protesting, who believe their votes were stolen and who are being attacked violently? Read the rest of this entry »
This one is for our Italian colleagues, inheritors of a long and cherished political heritage, from The Guardian:
Not satisfied with having once referred to Barack Obama as “sun-tanned”, Silvio Berlusconi today returned to the subject, telling a reporter he was paler than the US president.
After a journalist commented that his response to the global economic crisis made him seem like Obama, Italy’s prime minister, who is famed for his even, year-round tan, shot back: “I’m paler, also, because it’s been so long since I’ve been in the sun.” He quickly added: “He is more handsome, younger and taller.”
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gave an enthusiastic, if unconventional, welcome on Thursday to the election of Barack Obama, citing among his attributes youth, good looks and a “suntan.”
Speaking at a joint news conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow, the 72-year-old media tycoon also said Obama’s election to the White House had been “hailed by world public opinion as the arrival of a messiah.”
“I will try to help relations between Russia and the United States where a new generation has come to power, and I don’t see problems for Medvedev to establish good relations with Obama who is also handsome, young and suntanned,” he said.
Berlusconi, who himself sports a year-round tan, is famed in diplomatic circles for making sometimes inappropriate quips.
On his first meeting with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in 2002, Berlusconi complimented him with the words: “Rasmussen is not only a great colleague, he’s also the best-looking prime minister in Europe.”
He added: “He’s so good looking, I’m even thinking of introducing him to my wife.”
He sparked a minor diplomatic incident in 2005 by suggesting he had wooed Finnish President Tarja Halonen to ensure her backing for Italy to host the European Food Safety Authority.
“I had to use all my playboy tactics, even if they have not been used for some time,” he said, prompting Helsinki to call in the Italian ambassador to explain the comments.
2140 GMT: Persian2English reports that more than a thousand relatives of detainees gathered outside Evin Prison to commemorate Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning after the religious occasion of Ashura. Demonstrators offered prayers and chanted “Allahu Akhbar (God is great)”.
So Mark Sanford (pictured), Governor of South Carolina and a Republican Presidential hopeful for 2012, has fallen, if not by the wayside, for the wiles of a shady lady from Argentina.
This one is for our Italian colleagues, inheritors of a long and cherished political heritage, 
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