Mousavi. Not relenting
Photo: AP
Protests in Tehran
Photo: Hamed Saber
Mousavi: We will continue our fight
Iranian opposition leader makes it clear that even once final election results published protest will continue. Iran announces that it seeks apology from Europe
"It is our historic responsibility to continue our protest and not to abandon the effort to realize the rights of the people," said Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the defeated Iranian reformist presidential candidate, on Wednesday.
Just two days following the publication of the final election results by the Guardian Council of the Constitution, Mousavi signaled that the reformist protest in Iran has just begun. He emphasized, however, that the protest will be carried out within an accepted, lawful framework.
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Mousavi called upon the regime to release opposition prisoners, to allow protests to take place, and to cease blocking Internet sites and censuring the press. He even leveled harsh criticism at the regime and the elected government.
"From here on in, we will have a government that operates in the most unhealthy of conditions in terms of its connection with the people. There are many in the society, including myself, who do not accept its political legitimacy," said Mousavi. "It will be a weak government. And the concern is that as a result of this weakness, it will sink into the abyss of making concessions to foreigners."
"Public support has taken a serious hit," wrote Mousavi. "A regime that has relied for 30 years on public support cannot switch this support with security forces."
Mousavi asked, if such is not the case, "Why don't they allow others to hold protests so that it can be seen just how much this support has been damaged?" However, he noted that it still is not too late to rehabilitate public support through a return to Islam, obeying the constitution, and speaking the truth to the people.
The Iran Participation Front Party. the largest reform movement party in Iran, published an announcement in which it labeled the presidential elections "a revolution" and called the official results "unacceptable." The announcement also claimed, "The elections were a result of a revolution that has been in progress for a year and has damaged the legitimacy of the regime both inside and outside of Iran."
Iran: Europe should apologize
Iran has accused the European Union of interfering in its internal affairs, and has demanded a formal apology before the two meet for talks on Iran's nuclear program.
Commander of the armed forces, General Hassan Firuz Abadi said, "Because of this group's (European Union) involvement in the riots following the elections, it has lost the capability of holding to talks with Iran on the nuclear issue."
Abadi added, "Until they apologize for their large mistake, they have no right to talk about negotiations."
The West is concerned that Iran is covertly approaching the production of a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies such allegations, claiming that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes only. Together with the US, Russia, and China, the European states offered Iran an economic incentive package if it halts uranium enrichment. However, Iran rejected the offer, saying that it has a legitimate right as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty to develop pursue a peaceful nuclear program.
